Caring for an elderly person is a great responsibility, so
it is important that the person who takes charge is trained, that he treats
them with patience and affection to improve their physical, mental and social
well-being, especially during this quarantine.
The provision of care is not carried out exclusively in the
home environment, but extends to different public and private institutions. However,
family care is one of the scenarios where it is most visible and common.
Undoubtedly, caring for another human represents a great
challenge that demands teamwork and full awareness. Here Elly Kleinman, founder
of Americare, a leading provider of healthcare services, offers you five tips on
how to take care of an elderly person at home.
Carry out a needs assessment
At the very beginning, you must list what the needs of your
family member are, as well as the resources available to face them. Once that
has been established, a realistic action plan will be drawn up of what each
family member can contribute, as well as looking for the means and people to
facilitate the process.
Make family agreements
When your senior family member begins to become dependent,
it is necessary to reach family agreements regarding the responsibilities that
each child will take on. Disagreements and friction are common. Elly Kleinman Americare recommends to establish a family meeting to openly discuss the
expectations, possibilities and responsibilities that each of family member must
meet with the objective of strengthening family ties.
If can be difficult to reach these agreements, which is Elly
Kleinman recommends you go to a professional who can guide you to make the
process of adaptation and change in family dynamics positive and constructive.
Assemble a good team of professionals
Generally, an elderly person has various pathologies, so the
most advisable thing is to have a professional who can guide them as a family in
the care and treatment of their relative.
If you require personalized assistance and support to carry
out activities of daily living, consider the option of hiring an assistance
service for the elderly in your home, in case you require advanced medical
care, contact a nursing service.
Establish a daily routine for your family member
It is advisable to have a schedule for each activity during
the day, from breakfast, personal hygiene, recreational and social activities,
among others, so that our family member gets used to doing them without
problems. Having a structured routine helps to keep their activities in order,
making them feel safe in addition to promoting the person to keep their sleep
and wake schedules.
Establish a security plan
In an elderly person, the risks of accidents are increased
as their senses begin to diminish. Healthcare executive Elly Kleinman recommends making a list of some risk factors and taking actions in this
regard.
One of the dangers older adults continually face is falls.
To prevent this from happening, you need to do a review of the living space of
your family member and remove obstacles, rugs, fragile tables where he can
trip. Modifications must also be made in certain critical areas such as the
bathroom, where support bars must be installed and slip-resistant mats must be
placed. It is essential to have good lighting and free spaces to be able to
circulate easily.
If your family member has cognitive impairment, you should
anticipate that they might leave the home and get lost in the surroundings. For
this, Mr. Kleinman recommends keeping the door locked and providing them with
identification that they can wear all day.
