When an older loved one needs care, there are a lot of different things that need to be taken into account. Physical needs are usually the things that are given the highest priority, but they’re not the only things that need to be taken into consideration. Emotional and spiritual needs also deserve consideration when it comes to care.
These can be a lot harder to account for, though. How do you know if a caregiver is going to have the right personality to click with a loved one? How can you tell if your loved one’s bad mood is a result of depression or just a general unhappiness that care is needed in the first place?
There’s not really a good way to tell on the surface level how to best address and account for these things. Sometimes it’s necessary to bring them to the attention of the service that is helping out and hope that it works.
But when it comes to spiritual needs, your loved one probably already has a set of routines and preferences. Whether it’s a church, temple, or another religious organization, if your loved one has a preference, this can be a lot easier to continue.
But in reality, many care services don’t prioritize this like they should. It only makes a tough situation even tougher. Seniors can often feel like they are losing parts of themselves when care’s needed.
Add onto this the fact that senior care in general can be a pretty lonely place. For starters, many seniors struggle with mobility and getting around with the same level of ease that they once did. Seniors also often find themselves living in isolation. Whether it’s in their own home or in a facility setting, it is not uncommon for seniors to be separated from their friends and family. Unfortunately, even with care in place, this can be a very real situation for a lot of people.
Some care facilities will have multiple services each week to account for the different spiritual needs of their residents. In smaller communities, it’s not uncommon to see different faith communities and churches rotate, each taking a Saturday or Sunday service when it comes to be their turn. It depends on the size of the community where you’re receiving care and the goals of the care facility.
Regardless of your religion, regardless of your spiritual background, it’s important to remember that everyone has a unique outlook and set of personal needs and desires when it comes to their spiritual life. Being older, facing a disability, or even struggles with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia do not take away the importance of a spiritual life.
Senior care needs to be more proactive about taking this fact into account. Staying connected with a church, temple, or other religious organization is really important for many people. Regardless of what the right senior care for your family’s unique set of needs might be, maintaining a vibrant spiritual life should stay a top priority.
Would you like to talk more about how Paradise In-Home Care can help your loved one stay connected? Please get in touch with us today.
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