Aged Care Tips

Are you a relative or primary caregiver of a senior citizen? Providing aged care can be a difficult task. Read this excerpt for some aged care tips. 

Understand the Needs of the Aged Person

Aged people have varying needs. As such, you must understand their needs to know the type of care you should provide. For instance, they may have mobility problems caused by aging or long term illnesses such as arthritis. If this is the case, you could purchase walking frames or a wheelchair to help them move. Besides, you could ask them to renovate the property to ensure it has rails, ramps and disability friendly washrooms. 

Aged people with chronic illnesses will prefer home-based care. As a caregiver, you may have to administer drugs, nurse their wounds or provide physiotherapy. Contact the individual's doctor to understand their condition. For example, how can you track the progress of the disease? What should you do if the drugs do not work? How should you handle a medical emergency? This information will significantly improve the quality of care you provide. 

Aged Care Should Be a Collaborative Process

As a rule, you should involve the aged person when making decisions about their well-being or health. It is a simple way to build their trust and confidence in the services you provide. Inquire about their daily schedule, how they want their meals made, their hobbies and interests. 

Encourage the aged person to be independent. It helps improve their confidence and mental health. Besides, they will not feel too dependent. Ask them to drive or help out with light duties at home. You could also encourage them to join social clubs such as charity organisations and book clubs. 

Take Regular Breaks

Most caregivers will often forget to take care of themselves. This affects their health, and they could suffer from stress and depression. As such, you should take regular breaks to refresh your mind. Ask a friend or close family member to take care of your patient when you are away.

Create a Safe Environment 

Create a safe environment for your loved one. For example, you could renovate the floors to reduce the risk of falls. Low-lying shelves will help them access various household items. If the person has a mental illness, install CCTV cameras to help you monitor them while you are not around.  

Caregivers providing aged care should understand the needs of their patient, involve the person when making decisions, take regular breaks and create a safe environment at home. 


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