One of the big questions that a lot of people have when an elderly family member shows a decline in health is, “what should I do to help?” They might even think, “should I do anything to help?” In short, the answer to this question really needs to be determined by your family’s unique situation.
If these are questions that you have been grappling with, hopefully we can give you some guidance. Read on to see what you can do right now to help out.
How You Can Help
If you want to help an elderly loved one find the right kind of senior care for them, the first step is to be informed. You should know what types of limitations they have, any disability that might be present, and any ongoing medical issues or needs that exist. If you have any questions or are unclear on anything in this regard, consulting with a medical professional is a must.
Next, you need to pair their needs up with the best type of senior care. For example, an individual that needs frequent attention from a nurse will most likely be better off in a nursing home than they would be in an assisted living facility. Someone without pressing medical concerns but in need of assistance getting around and caring for themselves will find that in-home care or an assisted living facility is better suited for their needs. The goal is to find care that can safely cover all of their physical and mental needs without infringing upon their quality of life and independence.
Now, take their wants into consideration. Someone who craves to be independent will not want to be put in an assisted living facility. If in-home care can account for all of their needs, then this is most likely the type of care that will be preferred.
If you and your mom or dad have spoken about their wants when it comes to senior care, then you already have a good idea of what you can do to help them. If not, this is a conversation worth having. Talking about things like power of attorney and advance directives can also be helpful. The sooner these arrangements are made, the better.
Should I Help?
Most of the time, you would expect to see a big “YES!” right here. But it depends on the situation of your family. If another person has power of attorney over an older loved one, or if you are not on good terms with your parent or grandparent, your help, as well intended as it might be, might not necessarily be a good thing. If you really want to help out in a situation like this, the best way to approach this is to ask the person who is taking charge of your relative’s care to see if there’s anything that you can do to help. If your help is wanted or needed, you can go from there. We know that not all family situations are the same, so while we encourage you to learn more about elder care, there are also times where family situations make helping out impossible.
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