Did you know that people over 75 years old visit the doctor 3 times more often than people aged 22 to 44 years old? If your elderly loved one has been experiencing declining health issues and you don’t have the time to keep up with it, home care solutions might be perfect for you. Helping a loved one age in a familiar place can be the best option for many seniors.
This may mean anything from helping with tasks such as bathing and meal prep, as well as activities including medication management and administering injections, or even basic companionship services. Whatever level of care your loved one needs, at-home care solutions can help your loved one remain at home for as long, and as comfortably, as possible.
It is important to plan both for the short- and long-term. In addition to the daily tasks, such as doctor appointments and prescription refills, you should consider the what-ifs associated with your relative’s age and condition before finding the best solution for your loved one.
Here are some of the ways you can provide home care services to your loved one:
- Home Adaptations
- Specialized Healthcare Needs
- Lifestyle Assistance
- Bluebird Homecare can Support Your Loved One
Home Adaptations
If the person you’re caring for has difficulty getting around, suffers from compromised vision or hearing, you may want to consider ways to adapt your loved one’s home and make it less hazardous. With this in mind, you should consider consulting a professional before making any decisions.
An at-home care specialist, like Bluebird Homecare, can provide you with the caregivers and specialists you need to assess the home and make recommendations. As you begin to incorporate new care solutions into the daily life of your loved one, be sure to stay alert to changing needs over time. You may want to start out by creating simple fixes for fall prevention throughout the home.
Some basic, low-cost changes include removing trip hazards like throw rugs, making sure the home is well lit with motion sensor or automatic night-lights, as well as installing adjustable shower seats, grab bars and other accessible handrails. For more extreme situations, you may need to modify more extensively. This can include anything from structural changes such as installing wheelchair ramps, creating adjustable countertops and even widening doorways.
Connect with Bluebird Homecare’s team of expert senior caregivers today!
Specialized Healthcare Needs
Caring for an aging or chronically ill loved one can mean you’ll need to learn and perform a variety of specialized healthcare needs. This can include anything from basic medical tasks to keeping track of a confusing mix of medications. For many, this can be challenging to learn or even keep up with outside of your own life.
With the help of an at-home caregiver, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive specialized companionship and healthcare services. Rather than place your relative in an old age facility where they might not receive the attentive care they need, an at-home specialist can provide the unique solutions your loved one needs.
A specialized caregiver can stay on top of meds, create and maintain an updated medication list, as well as bring your senior to upcoming medical appointments. Along with that, they will have the educational background and tools necessary to perform specific, professional medical tasks. From injections to medications, catheters and more, your specialist can take the best care of your senior relative.
Lifestyle Assistance
Caregiving can become all-consuming, especially if you are sharing a home with the person you’re caring for. You may find yourself unable to keep up with just the basic lifestyle demands that come with caring for an older relative. Rather than feel stretched too thin, an at-home caregiver can provide you with the much needed relief you need, while also offering lifestyle assistance to your loved one when you don’t have the time to do so.
A specialized home caregiver can address everything from your loved one’s social needs, nutrition, exercise, and even help take them to their weekly gatherings. For many elderly individuals, as their health declines, it can be challenging to keep up with the daily demands of living, let alone visit with their friends or communities. With help from a caregiver, your senior relative will never feel lonely or isolated like they may feel in a care facility and they’ll be able to keep up with a balanced diet and routine.
Bluebird Homecare can Support Your Loved One
Every living situation is unique. Allowing your senior loved ones to stay at home can often be the best option. Not only will they be able to maintain most of their independence, but they’ll be able to receive much more personal care tailored to their specific home and health needs.
Aging in one’s own home is a great option to ensure that you or a loved one maintain independence and a familiar life, all while costing less than most other assisted living options. Bluebird Homecare helps make healthy, independent living in the home possible. If you or a loved one is looking to age in place, contact us to see how we can help.