Did you know that over 16% of Australia’s total population consists of elderly people who are aged 65 and above? When it comes to taking care of your elderly parents or loved ones, you need to be sure that they are taken care of properly. They need to be treated with love, care, and respect.
It might get a little stressful at times to always keep a check on how they’re doing but with a little bit of dedication and patience, you can be their support system. Here are five important tips for taking care of elderly people.
1. Visit them often
First and foremost, it is important to visit them as often as possible. Elderly people require quite a bit of social interaction because they spend most of their time indoors.
Visiting them frequently will also reassure you that they are healthy and happy. In case something happens to them, you can easily be there to take care of the situation.
During your visit, check around the house to make sure everything is in order. You may even water their plants or feed their pet if they allow you to do so. Check the overall cleanliness of the house and keep an eye out for anything that might require replacement or repair.
2. Check their medication
Be sure that they have enough medication and that they’re taking their pills on time. If you feel that you’re not able to track their dosage properly, install apps like My Medadvisor on their phones or on your phone to make things easier.
Medadvisor keeps a thorough record of all the medication and appointments necessary. If they are on multiple medications, you can even buy a pill organizer box and label them according to the days of the week or according to AM/PM routines.
This will greatly simplify the entire process of remembering different tablets and capsules. If a new medicine is prescribed, ask a doctor or pharmacist regarding potential side effects.
3. Hire a caretaker
If you are a busy person, it might not be possible for you to keep visiting your close ones and take care of them. In this case, you can hire a part-time or full-time caretaker from a reputed agency like Retire
Genie.
They can cook and clean around the house and even help elderly people with tasks like showering or housekeeping. Hiring a helper becomes especially important if the elderly person concerned is bedridden or recovering from an illness or surgery.
If there isn’t someone you know personally, you can ask your friends or colleagues for recommendations. Even though this can be slightly expensive, a good house help can do wonders.
4. Make some modifications
When people turn old, they require extra help to do simple tasks. In order to make their lives easier, you can make a few changes to their house. For example,
- Installing a ramp for wheelchairs or walkers
- Installing sturdy handrails in the showers
- Putting smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on the ceilings
- Place non-skid mats and carpets in the potentially slippery areas of the house, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or toilets
- Plugging in auto-sensor night lamps around the house so that they can see clearly even in the dark
- Tucking away cables and cords that might be lying around here and there
5. Keep them active
Daily exercise is good for both the mind and the body, no matter what age your loved ones reach. Unless the people concerned are bedridden or absolutely unable to move, you should encourage them to exercise a little every day.
Elderly people tend to feel lonely and isolated, so joining an exercise club can not only keep them fit but also help them socialize. It is important that they remain in touch with other people and go outdoors. A bit of brisk walking or stretching can greatly improve blood circulation and keep them active.
Over to you…
Even though these five tips are the most important when it comes to caring for aged people, there are many other small things you can do to ensure they’re always there to help out.
For example, you can take care of their insurance or bank paperwork once in a while to keep track of things or help them out financially when they need it. The important thing is to communicate with them openly and honestly. While you’re busy taking care of them, remember to take proper care of yourself too.
