Are you looking after someone who is ageing? Keeping an elderly loved one in good health is not just about taking care of their medication and treatment alone. It’s also about keeping them happy, feeling loved and feeling cared for. The elderly should be able to live their lives with dignity, with comfort, and with as much independence as possible; and they should have something to look forward to that makes their days meaningful.
All this isn’t easy. As a primary caregiver, you have your own life to lead and your own needs to take care of! We’ve listed below some advice for those who are taking care of family or friends who are elderly. If you’re an Aged Care worker looking after an elderly person, you might want to check out these tips as well, and make your life easier!
1. Is there any special equipment that might help, or is it possible to make any home changes?
If the aged person in your care finds it difficult to move around, communicate or do things for themselves, you could explore a range of equipment that can help them to gain autonomy. For instance, you could try getting them a wheelchair, and make small modifications to their home that can help them navigate to the bathroom without assistance. Even this small accomplishment would make a huge difference to their lives.
2. Install an alarm or a monitor so they can call for help if needed
The elderly are prone to falls, from the bed at night or while moving around the house. A fall monitor can sense if the user falls, and will send out an alert to the emergency contact at once. You can also install a home camera that follows your loved one when they are alone at home and will send you a camera feed so that you can reassure yourself of their safety when you are away.
3. Keep care at home as much as possible
If the elderly are able to live in their own homes with periodic assistance, they will continue to be in familiar surroundings and live among friends and neighbours. As an aged care worker, you could arrange regular home visits, telehealth appointments, and at-home support for all their needs. Right from providing meals to cooking and cleaning or grocery shopping, there are hundreds of ways in which you can support them at home.
4. Chalk out an emergency care plan
It’s very important to have in place an emergency care plan, that has all the information about the person you care for in one place. In the event that you need to be somewhere else, this will make it easy for someone to take over from you and provide seamless continued care. Aged care workers might need to take over from each other from time to time, and by documenting all the patient needs and care mandates in one easy-to-access document, there can be optimal personalised support and care.
5. Learn manual lifting safety rules
If the person you are taking care of is bedridden and needs to be lifted or moved around, it’s important to learn how to do this properly. If you lift them incorrectly you could harm them, as well as grievously injure yourself. Learn the proper ways to lift and support people or heavy things.
6. Make care regimens that are centred around the patient
If you’re looking after an elderly relative, find out the type of care they want to receive and when and where they would like to receive it. Would they like just companionship, or do they need someone to cook and shop for them? What about medical needs? Allow them to make their own decisions, and just give them the support they need.
7. Learn to manage incontinence
One of the common problems that the elderly face is being unable to hold in their urine or faeces. Learn how to manage incontinence without embarrassing them or making them feel unclean. It is possible in many countries to get financial aid for incontinence pads, so do check out if there are any support services available.
8. Learn to deal with challenging behaviours
As people get older, they can sometimes exhibit challenging behaviours such as verbal aggression, mental depression, and so on. Find out the best ways to calm down such patients and gently deal with challenging behaviour.
9. Introduce a personalised exercise and diet regime
Staying well-nourished, and getting adequate exercise will go a long way toward good health, especially in the elderly. Incorporate a gentle exercise regime, and plan out a suitable diet that includes some of their favourite foods. Help them to follow this plan with a disciplined approach. Older people are a lot like children; if they are encouraged and rewarded, they will be happy to fall in step with the daily routine that you have planned for them. A sensible routine will help them to stay healthy and also feel good about themselves!
10. Explore alternate care modes
If you are the only caregiver, you might feel that you, yourself need a break from time to time. Check out respite care, where it is possible to have someone else to stand in for you while you take care of your own needs.
Would you like to explore nursing career opportunities and become an Aged Care Worker in countries like Australia, New Zealand or the UK? Take a look at study abroad opportunities that allow you to get certified as an Aged Care Worker. Do talk to study abroad consultants from MWT Global Academy and find out easy pathways to live, work and settle down overseas!