What’s the best thing you can do for an older family member?
It’s a big question, one that might take some time to consider fully, but it is a good thing to ask yourself, especially if you do it before their health worsens and you don’t have a lot of time to think things through before you need to act.
Whatever you decide to do, there are a few main points of consideration. One, is your relative healthy? Are their basic medical and safety needs being met? These are important considerations for anyone, but amongst the elderly, there are extra precautions that need to be taken. Regular doctor appointments should always be scheduled and kept, and precautions should be taken within the home so that there are no needless safety hazards. If dementia is an issue because of Alzheimer’s disease of something else, around the clock supervision might become necessary, too. Just remember that physical health is just the beginning and provides a foundation of overall happiness that needs to be built upon.
Also, do not forget their emotional and mental needs. There is a strong connection between mental well being and physical health, and this is not something to ignore. If your loved one is mentally healthy, they stand a far better chance of being physically healthy, too. There are many studies that support this, and it also just makes sense. If you feel good, you are much more likely to do the things you need to keep on taking care of yourself. If you are depressed or unhappy, it is easy to get caught in a downward spiral of not taking care of yourself physically, and this can make you feel even more depressed. Yes, it is often a cause and effect thing, but that doesn’t make it any less real–especially when you are in the middle of experiencing it. Regardless of causation, it is something that needs to be taken care of and prevented if at all possible.
These are the two most important aspects of caring for an older relative, but they are both closely related, and luckily, can often be addressed with the same thing. Finding the right way to keep them safe and cared for is a lot easier when you use in-home care. This provides the basic framework of care and safety while you are away from your parent, and it allows them to stay in a place where they are happy: their own home. It gives them companionship so that they do not need to be home by themselves all day. It provides the best of both worlds: professional level care, but without the need to relocate to a nursing home or assisted living facility. These things might become necessary in the future, but if they are not needed yet, this is a far better choice for most people.
These are just the basics. Other things should be done to keep your loved one as happy as possible, but this cannot be done unless a basic foundation is laid first, and physical and mental health will help you to get to this next level.
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