Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Physical Care for the Elderly
• Part 2 of 3: Caring for the elderly
• Part 3 of 3: Dealing with opposition
• Tips
• Warnings

The most important part of caring for older people is loving and making sure they stay active. There are many different ways to care for the elderly, be it caring for and comforting them in their own homes, or placing them in a nursing home. By following the steps below, over time and with some effort, you will be able to care for your loved ones properly.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Physical Care for the Elderly

1. 1 Plan ahead. Many children will eventually need to provide care for their parents. A pre-written plan can address some issues before the situation becomes critical (for example, in the event of a sudden illness or injury). By using technology, you can make your home safe for seniors and anticipate the costs of ensuring that security in advance.
   • There are many technologies available to help monitor older people to make sure they are moving around and therefore safe and taking their medications. For example, there are GPRS trackers and first aid kits that light up when you need to take a medicine. This will help them stay in their own homes longer.
   • Make your home safer by installing anti-scald devices to protect sensitive skin of the elderly, carbon monoxide detectors, special smoke detectors with flash lamps or vibration to wake the elderly person up (many seniors cannot hear conventional smoke detectors), and also install grab bars in showers and toilets.
   • Elderly care can be quite costly. Do your research and explore options for yourself, as well as potential grants or programs that may be beneficial to your loved ones.
2. 2 Make sure your loved ones stay active. Exercise can protect older people from disease and reduce their actual age by 10-15 years. It can even lead to huge health benefits for those who have been sedentary for years. This can delay the need for care and protect them from disease longer.
   • Elderly people are recommended to engage in moderately active physical exercises (running, swimming, walking, cycling) for half an hour a day 5 times a week. Those who engage in more intense workouts, if the heart rate increases significantly and breathing becomes heavy, should exercise for at least 20 minutes a day, 3 times a week. Weight exercises (using free weights, resistance bands, or weights) should be done two or three times a week, on different days. You should also do stretching exercises (stretching, yoga, tai chi) for at least 10 minutes a day.
3. 3 Monitor their physical and mental health. If they are in pain or have health problems, ask them to visit (or drive yourself) to the doctor. If the pains / problems are serious enough, then your most important task is to go to the hospital and see what they can do for him / her at the moment.
   • Watch for signs of weakness, severe forgetfulness, loss of direction, or other instability.
   • Mental health is often overlooked, but it is an important part of caring for an elderly person. Watch for signs of impending depression such as loss of interest, lethargy, or deep feelings of sadness or anger. This can be a very difficult time for an older person, so monitor their mental wellbeing as closely as you physically.
4. 4 Talk to your loved one's pharmacist. Different doctors may prescribe different medicines for older people, and only one pharmacist will know which medicines your loved one is taking. Make friends with your pharmacist and talk to him about possible side effects and drug interactions.
5. 5 Help them drive their car. The thought of stopping driving can lead to intense anger and resentment on the part of an older person. Remember that being able to drive is an important part of being independent, and accepting that this is no longer possible can be very difficult.
   • Occasionally, discounted car insurance offers classes for older drivers.
   • There are aids to help an older person drive, such as an assisted ignition switch for arthritic wrists.
   • If it is truly unsafe and your loved one continues to persist, then seek help from a doctor or vehicle registration department to get them to stop driving.
   • Keep them mobile, using public transport or tricycles, so they can maintain a sense of freedom and self-reliance.
6. 6 Discuss finances. Talk to your loved one about their finances and possible long-term care plans. Occasionally, certain incentives can be applied to reduce heating costs or the cost of medical supplies, and must be identified if any. If the elderly want to stay in their own home, then perhaps the best option would be to reduce the living area of ​​the apartment.
   • The elderly are especially vulnerable to fraudsters, so be sure to discuss this for their own safety. At least once a year, take pictures of your credit card history so that you know that your loved one is not being robbed or their data stolen.
7. 7 Discuss legal issues. Find out all about their power of attorney, will and medical insurance documents. This will help to find out who can make decisions about the elderly person's treatment and finances in case of emergencies, or when they become somewhat incapacitated.
   • If your loved one has not yet received these documents, help him or her to obtain them.
8. 8 Cook for them or eat together. Nursing homes sometimes have lunches that provide transportation, which can be a great way for your loved one to meet and share a meal with others. Seniors often lose interest in food, especially if they are depressed, so eating together can make eating more enjoyable.
   • Delivery services can also help seniors who have difficulty preparing meals for themselves.
9. 9 Consider hiring a caregiver to care for an elderly person. This can solve some of the physical difficulties in caring for your loved one. A caregiver can help the elderly person do whatever they need to do and take most of the burden off family members. They can also help the older person maintain some independence by staying with them in their own home.
   • Sometimes government assistance can help offset some of the costs. Review your options and contact your local nursing agency if one exists.
   • If there is no need for a caregiver yet, or her arrival will not solve the problem, help them around the house. For example, help them with things like laundry, cleaning, or gardening.
10. 10 Consider the retirement home option. Sometimes the idea of ​​a caregiver is not possible, for example, because an elderly person needs a lot of help or simply cannot afford it. A nursing home will provide for and take care of your loved one.
    • They sometimes organize classes and have experienced healthcare professionals to care for the elderly, making the stay in this home safer and more enjoyable.
    • There is no need to shame or blame yourself if you are no longer able to care for your loved one in his or your own home. Sometimes circumstances make caring for the elderly in the home impossible or even unsafe, and this is not your fault.
11. 11 Consider taking care of your loved one in your home. Caring for the elderly in your home can help them feel better and maintain strong family bonds, allowing you to spend time with them and monitor their health. If you choose to care for an elderly person in your home, then you should arrange furniture so that they have enough room to move freely and remove loose rugs that you might trip over.
    • Home care can mean helping your loved one with the bath, dressing, feeding, medication control, financial control, and emotional support.

Part 2 of 3: Caring for the elderly

1. 1 Respect the elderly person. Always treat an older person with respect. Even if they are old and possibly healthy, they are still people with their own emotions and thoughts. Don't judge them by their physical condition. Aging is only part of the natural cycle: you are born, you are a child, you become a teenager, you reach adulthood, and one day you too will grow old. Respect them and their lives.
   • Do not swear or use words that they may find inappropriate; they grew up in a different time and can take everything seriously.
2. 2 Help your loved one cope with the loss of independence. Encourage them to maintain friendships, stay active, develop new interests, and keep in touch with other family members. Explain to them that losing independence is not a personal failure, but only part of a natural life cycle.
3. 3 Encourage them to volunteer. A recent study found that older people who are involved in volunteer work are happier and healthier. This is especially true for those with chronic medical conditions. Feeling needed and appreciated as a volunteer can significantly improve mental well-being, and therefore the health of your loved one.
   • The benefits of this can be seen if you work on a volunteer basis for at least 2-3 hours a week.
4. 4 Visit them often. Visits will strengthen the emotional connection and improve the mental well-being of your loved one. Visits will also allow you to check on their health as a caregiver. You can keep an eye on whether they water the plants, check mail, or see any bruises, which means they need more help. Let friends and family help you.
5. 5 Bring something that belonged to them. If they are moving into a nursing home or your home, take something with you from their home. This will help them feel more confident in the home, in the new environment, and help them cope with the big changes in their lives.
6. 6 Find common interests with them. Some young people mistakenly believe that they cannot connect with the elderly, but remember that older people may think that they have no common points of contact with your interests. Try to be honest and find out what makes them happy. If you cannot share their interests, then you can at least share their experiences.
7. 7 Try to keep everything as it was, as much as possible. Many older people feel nervous and uncomfortable about changes, especially when they leave home. Try to keep everything unchanged. For example, you can take a pet with an older person if he or she moves in with you or in a nursing home (if allowed).
8. 8 Make them feel welcome in the house. Try to get them to take part in activities at the nursing home or involve them in various activities in your home. Encourage them to be active participants in their environment.
   • You can also encourage them to take walks or take them for walks or other activities. This can help them feel happier, especially if they are suffering from depression.
   • You can also surprise them by making occasional gifts or hosting parties for them as a way to get them involved.
9. 9 Listen to their stories. You may find them interesting, and they may even be able to help you navigate situations in your life. Seniors have more life experiences to pass on to you, and you can improve your life by listening and consulting with them. Find beauty in their stories and learn from them.
   • It will also strengthen the bond between you and help them feel connected to the world around them.

Part 3 of 3: Dealing with opposition

1. 1 Be prepared for opposition from an older person. Resistance is one of the most common difficulties people face in caring for the elderly. Your loved one may feel a loss of independence, loss of physical health or mental health. This can lead to them becoming frightened, nervous, guilty and / or angry, which will cause them to refuse to accept help from you.
   • They may also think that accepting help is a sign of weakness, so they are stubborn or worried about physical burden or expense.
   • Also, a person can lose memory, which can cause them to forget that they need help.
   • Certain ways of dealing with resistance may not be appropriate for older people with dementia.
2. 2 Determine how much the older person needs help. Assess the kind of care and assistance your loved one needs. Be honest about the type of services and assistance the person will need.
3. 3 Talk to the older person while you are both in a relaxed state. Pick a moment when both of you are relaxed and open to conversation. This will make it easier for the two of you to talk openly and honestly and listen to the other person's words.
4. 4 Ask the older person about their personal preferences. They may feel that they are losing their freedom and independence when they ask for help, so it is important to take into account their wishes. Ask them to say in their own words how they understand care from family members or special services. You may not be able to fulfill all of their wishes, but it is important to listen and reflect on them.
   • If your loved one has a hard time understanding you, try to simplify your explanations and questions to make it easier to understand.
5. 5 Ask other family members to help you talk to the older person. Let family and friends help you as you talk to loved ones. They can help convince your loved one to accept help.
6. 6 Be patient and keep trying. It can take time and some effort to convince your loved one to accept help. If the first time they refuse to discuss the topic, try to come back to it later and don't give up.
7. 7 Offer them a trial run. If they still stubbornly resist the idea that they need help, then you can invite them to try so they don't need to make a final decision right now. This will give them the opportunity to see how things are going and find out what benefits there are in getting help.
8. 8 Talk confidently about leaving. You can describe to them care centers, such as clubs or care services, as a friend, so that your loved one will only see the positive.
9. 9 Explain your own needs. Tell the older person how it will help you and make your own life easier if they accept help. Sometimes your loved one may feel guilty about the burden they are placing on you, but if you tell them how much their acceptance of help will help you, they may change their mind.
   • Remind your loved one that you both need to compromise on some issues.
10. 10 Make decisions wisely. You are unlikely to agree to everything. Pick the topics you want to discuss and avoid controversy over the little things. Focus on the basic issues of caring for your loved one.
11. 11 Point out that caring can actually help your loved one maintain independence longer. Accepting help and support can allow an older person to stay in their own home for as long as possible.

Tips

• Make sure they are happy and not upset.
• Always respect the elderly. Listen to their wishes and try to fulfill them whenever possible.
• Keep them involved in decisions about themselves so that they feel more comfortable accepting help. For those with dementia, this may not work.

Warnings

• Don't scare them.
• If you see any signs of dangerous behavior or a sudden deterioration in health, contact the emergency medical service immediately!
• Monitor their mental wellbeing as well as their physical well-being, as older people often suffer from depression.