Helpful Tips For Elderly Care!Mom and I at McCarthy park. NeedEncouragement.com

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We all have the potential to be a helper or caregiver to a friend, neighbor, parent, or anyone the Lord puts in our pathway.  Training is essential, but having a heart for the person you care for is more than half the battle. You can be a good caregiver if you have the heart to help.

If you can treat the person you are giving care to the way you would want to be taken care of, that is the Golden Rule that will benefit everyone involved! I was blessed to be able to take care of my mom for the last eight years of her life. ~ Bill Greguska

Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother”—the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

 

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Our Parents Took Care Of Us When We Were Little, So…

That is why I felt that when my mom was in her 80s when my stepdad Charley died. There was no question that I would care for my mom as the primary caregiver for the next eight years. My mom clarified that she specifically, indeed, that she did not want to go into a nursing home. We worked things out by moving her back into her original house where I was living. Thankfully my mom was very intellectually sharp, yet her body was breaking down from diabetes, Asthma.

That is understandable if you can not care for your parents, but many good caregiver companies can help you with your aging parents. I am working at “Right At Home Caregivers,” and I highly recommend them. If you care for an elderly loved one or friend, I can share the most important advice: “To take care of them as you want them to care for you.” This is the golden rule found in Luke 6:31  Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 

 

Elderly Care For Your Parents And Loved Ones!

 

Here Are A Few Tips On How To Care For An Elderly Loved One!Mom and I in the front yard after a walk. NeedEncouragement.com

  1. Treat the elderly as you would want to be treated someday.
  2. Be aware of who to call for information when needed.
  3. Have an awareness of their diet, medication, and limitations.
  4. Post emergency contacts, phone numbers, and addresses on the refrigerator.
  5. Check expiration dates on medication and foods. Dispose of all medications and food properly that are no longer good or needed.
  6. Understand the older person by getting to know them and asking questions about their life. Reminisce about their past.
  7. Be aware that they have their habits and familiar ways and work around their needs.
  8. Have a flashlight by the bed in case of emergency.
  9. Always be respectful yet also have a sense of humor too.
  10. Do not promise something you can not deliver.
  11. Clear pathways of clutter, loose carpeting, etc.
  12. Set healthy boundaries for everyone’s good like
  13. Make sure the chairs and recliners are safe and solid.
  14. Have safety precautions such as rails, ramps, and other basics.
  15. Consider getting a raised toilet seat. Use rubber mats in the bathtub.
  16. If you do not know something, contact the doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or whoever has the answers you need to help them.
  17. Try to think about what they like, dislike, love, and fear, and comfort them in any way you can.
  18. In your mind, be their bodyguard, meaning make sure they do not trip, fall, or get hurt.
  19. Clearly mark the stove with tape or nail polish dials, especially the OFF position.
  20. Have fun with them and share parts of your life when appropriate, but do not weigh them down with your problems.

 

 

 

 

BELOW ARE 14 TIPS FOR ELDERLY CARE AT HOME:

If elders stay home, you must prepare the house for them. However, most seniors prefer staying alone because they don’t want to burden their kids. In such cases where they plan to remain independent, you need to  do the following 14 things:

1. Make Changes In The HouseMom and I out to eat with our dog shirts on. NeedEncouragement.com

Making small changes in the house can save a lot of trouble. You can take care of the following –
  • Remove all kinds of extra cluttered furniture around the house that might make it difficult for your elders to move around freely.
  • Have grab bars near the toilet and the shower. I know they don’t look good – but they are a must.
  • Smoke detectors with a vibrate or strobe lighting can wake seniors when conventional devices don’t.
  • Anti-scald devices for showers and faucets protect older skin and prevent severe burns. Or set the water heaters at 120 degrees – to a “low” temperature.
  • Ensure all cables and wires are tucked away to prevent slips or falls.
  • Install non-skid mats, strips, or pads in the toilet, bathtub or shower, and other slippery areas of the house.
  • Carbon monoxide detectors are suggested as older adults are at risk of even a low concentration of the deadly gas.
  • Make sure night lights are installed strategically around the house so that when your elders go to the bathroom or fetch water at night, they can find their way around.
You can add much more to the list for better elderly care at home, so do that in the comments section.

2. Keep Track

If your parents or elders are going to be alone at home, you need to make them comfortable and safe.
Some families use unique elderly care products at home that rely on strategically placed motion sensors to track sensors  to keep track of their elders. No microphones or cameras are used, so the pry remains intact, and these sensors send an alarm or message if anything out of the ordinary occurs. If your parents are tech-savvy, a mobile phone would be ideal, or a website update every 2-3 hours would keep you less worried.

3. Hire Someone

Sometimes the distances are far, and you cannot be with your loved ones or elders, even though you want to.
In such cases, you can hire a skilled professional that you can find from various agencies or places. They can help by being companions, helping out when your elders need them, or even taking them to the doctor in emergencies.
Thankfully, we get paid help on our end if need be, though we need to get them registered with their proper identity proof before keeping them.

4. Cater For Expenses

You need to anticipate the expenses when caring for your elders who aren’t living with you. You must pay for a few services to maintain your health and independence.
These could be a helper or caretaker if any, and the amount they would charge. Or it could also cover their health charges, routine check-ups, and daily expenditures – if they depend on you.

5. Visit Them Often

The time you spend with your elders makes a difference to them as they look forward to being with you. Also, if you visit them, you will often know whether they are safe, living well, and emotionally sound. You can keep an eye open for any changes – like if the house is unkempt, there is unopened mail lying around, plants not watered, soiled clothes, any bruises indicating they had a fall, etc. Ensure your elders have good neighbors who can check in often—Health and Safety of elders. You must ensure your elders are healthy and safe; to do that, you must take specific measures.

 

6. Regular Exercise

It’s a well-known fact that if older people exercise regularly, they remain protected from diseases, making them functionally younger by 10 to 15 years. So, let them start with light exercises and something they can do, and later they can take up more depending on their capability.

7. Be Careful With Medicines

Sometimes your elders living independently might have to be supervised due to poor medication management.
They see various specialists but take prescriptions from a single pharmacist, who might need to be better and more trustworthy.
You must ensure that the prescribed medications have no side effects and don’t interact with other medicines.
Also, ensure that the pharmacist is honest and of repute, as sometimes they can repackage pills that shouldn’t be taken by making them look all new. Another critical point is to ensure your parents or elders don’t mix up their medicines, as this problem does arise with old age. Reasons could be many: poor eyesight, memory problems, sleepiness, or other health issues. Sometimes, I’ve seen my Dad take some medicines that he was supposed to take at a different time because he was preoccupied. You can label the medication and put them in separate drawers or compartments, making it easy for your parents or elders to find them.

8. Driving Problems

It’s tough to handle parents or elders at home and tell them not to drive. Especially once age catches up, you see they aren’t able to go as well as before. You can see the changes when their cognitive abilities begin declining, their reaction time lessens, their body stiffens, and their driving err. If your parents or seniors are told not to drive, some even become stubborn enough and refuse to listen to you. It’s best to sit and explain things to them, and if they remain adamant, suggest hiring a driver. Again, I’ve done the same for my Dad, even though he can drive – just being safe.

9. Stay Away From Scams

If your elders stay away from you, they are vulnerable to many scams. It could be anything from their telephone or mobile investments to their usage of credit cards. You should get your parent’s credit cards checked periodically and get to know if they haven’t landed in any scams. Don’t forget to keep track of their bills too.

10. Talk About Finances

If your parents depend on you, it makes sense to have open discussions about the monetary aspects.
Be open with them, seek their advice, suggest your ways, and chalk out something that works best for both sides.
You should be frank enough to let them know how much you can offer and see if it fits well for you.

11. Documentation

Please complete all the paperwork beforehand. Like a power of attorney, just in case you need it if your parents or elders can no longer control their finances. It’s recommended that seniors add a second person with a detailed photograph, whether a friend or professional, who will also be there to keep a check on things. Similarly, let your parents make their will and keep it in safe custody with the lawyer or whatever they prefer. Your parents and elders also feel happier when all of this is done.

12. Get The Elders Involved

The best way to reconnect them with the world is to involve your elders in socially valuable activities. Now that they don’t have to manage kids or careers, most seniors like the opportunity to reach out and help others. With age setting in and their losses, many elders become isolated and lonely, while others suffer from depression.

Take care of your elders and ensure they stay connected with the rest of the world. They have years of wisdom to pass on to others. And they prefer doing this to sitting at home doing nothing or watching television. Your parents or seniors could also join voluntary programs or participate in educating those who need it – their way of helping others. Sadly, a few elders prefer remaining home, leading to unhappiness, depression, and other ailments. They feel they don’t have a purpose in life any longer. Life doesn’t end when they get old, which you must convey.

13. Make Friends

If you are busy and can’t take care of your parents and elders, it’s good for them to befriend people of their age.
They can mix with others and visit clubs or join standard hobby courses. Walking together, playing games or cards, shopping, or talking can help your elders feel better. Remember, at their age – it’s the company they seek more than anything else. I see my mother-in-law in a similar situation and often wish I could spend more time with her. If they have lost their spouse, their life can be very lonely.

14. Sharing Meals

Your elders might need help preparing their meals or lose interest in cooking. It could be due to a lack of interest, depression, or other health issues. I read about congregate meals that often take place at senior centers. Such group meals are a lifeline for elders who can’t prepare meals. Moreover, they remain happy in the company of others in a similar place and situation.

 

 

 

Some Specific Scriptures To Encourage You:

Leviticus 19:32 ESV 

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 ESV 

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Proverbs 23:22 ESV 

Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Psalm 71:9 ESV 

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.

Proverbs 20:29 ESV 

The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of older men is their gray hair.

Proverbs 16:31 ESV 

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

Job 12:12 ESV

Wisdom is with the aged and understanding in length of days.

Isaiah 46:4 ESV 

Even to your old age, I am he, and to gray hairs, I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Psalm 71:18 ESV 

So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Exodus 20:12 ESV 

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV 

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Job 32:7 ESV 

I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’

Psalm 92:12-14 ESV 

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,

1 Timothy 5:1 ESV 

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,

Titus 2:2-3 ESV 

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,

Joel 2:28 ESV 

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Isaiah 40:31 ESV

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 90:12 ESV

So teach us to number our days so that we may get a heart of wisdom.

 

 

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