#1 Communication
If your loved one is dealing with Alzheimer’s, or having difficulty hearing, it may be extremely difficult and frustrating trying to communicate. An experienced caregiver can show you how you can learn to communicate more effectively with your loved one. Keeping communication simple, learning to use short sentences spoken in a calm voice, and learning to minimize noise and distractions are just a few tools you will learn with the guide of caring and experienced staff. They will teach you how to be patient, give your loved one time to respond, and keep those doors of communication open.
Looking to Hire a Caregiver? Free Consultation Here Or Call 415-840-7368
#2 Cooking and Eating
With your busy schedule, finding the time to cook and provide a well balance diet for a loved one, especially when they do not want to eat, may be extremely difficult. Having a dedicated caregiver not only to cook, but find foods your loved one will willingly eat, and make sure they get enough nutrition in their diet, is extremely valuable. Did you know that certain foods can actually help dementia? Your caregiver will attend to these important details leaving you more quality time to spend with your loved one.
#3 Bathing and Dressing
Not everyone is comfortable with bathing and dressing their family members. If not properly trained, this process can be confusing and difficult. A professional caregiver is essential in making this a simple and comfortable process for all involved. Simple tasks like choosing clothes to wear can be challenging for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, especially figuring out buttons and zippers. A caregiver will know how to help with that process, eliminating frustration for you and your loved one.
#4 Companionship and Activities
While you may have the best intentions to take good care of your loved one, it is impossible to provide the best level of care 24 hours a day. For most people, that is not even possible. As the need for more care is going to increase steadily, it is important for companionship and safety that you have a reliable caregiver there to provide your loved one with the companionship they need, not only for safety reasons, but also to ease loneliness. And because the elderly can become restless or depressed, it is extremely important to engage them in activities that are appropriate for their ability levels. Caregivers are able to determine what simple tasks your loved one is able to participate in that makes him or her still feel valuable and independent.
#5 Exercise
Finding time to exercise is difficult enough to do for yourself. Did you know that exercise for the elderly is just as important as it improves health and provides a meaningful activity during the day? An experienced caregiver will find something your loved one can enjoy to promote good health through exercise. This activity can be as simple as a walk around the neighborhood or can be taking a water aerobics class or group exercise class.
#6 Home Safety and Driving
Don’t let your loved one be a statistic in the growing number of elderly who wander and get lost or fall and become injured at home. Having a caregiver can prevent these unfortunate accidents from happening to your loved one. Not only that, but a frustrating factor for the elderly and Alzheimer’s patients is that they can no longer drive. Having a caregiver be able to drive your loved one to a store and help them feel independent without the risk of having them get lost or get into an accident, is invaluable.
There are so many factors to consider when taking care of an elderly love one, especially within the multiple stages. First stage may only need part-time care. Later stages require full-time care. We are here to answer questions about all stages of healthcare and are happy to assist you with this major decision. With advances in medicine, parents are living longer and the current generation now has to take care of both their children and their parents. As parents age, develop medical issues or begin showing signs of dementia, sometime assistance is needed to ensure everyone involved stays happy and healthy. Here are some reasons you may want to consider a health care giver for your loved one.
• If your loved one is recovering from surgery, a caregiver will provide help, comfort, and do the shopping and cooking.
• A caregiver can alleviate pressure from family members allowing the family to spend more quality time together – creating less stress for that family.
• Aging parents can stay at home longer. Caregivers can assist with medication reminders, do light house work and still allow parents to feel independent in their own home.
• Caregivers provide companionship and provide interaction that slows the process of aging and dementia.
• Adjust the hours as needed for the appropriate stage of care needed, from a few hours a day or a few times a week.
• Extensive care giving by a family member can lead to depression. Having a healthcare giver to bear the extra responsibility removes some of the pressure from family members and allows for quality time with loved ones.
• An agency providing caregivers are available 24 hours a day, 356 days a year. If the primary caregiver is sick or goes on vacation, the agency supplies a knowledgeable and skilled replacement. All caregivers have training, extensive background checks and come with references.
Consultation
The peace of mind a caregiver provides impacts everyone in the family. It is a comfort to know your elderly loved one is being taken care of properly. Compared with other solutions, it is the most cost effective solution there is and may even be covered for those who qualify for medical assistance. Rather than being another individual, who is trying their best to care for an elderly family member, is burning the candle at both ends, tired, frustrated and compromising quality family time in the process, consider an experienced caregiver for your loved one. In addition, instead of taking matters into your own hands, let professional caregivers help you develop a client care plan. This plan can be tailored for specific care needs. Create a customized plan for your loved one that addresses physical, emotional and social needs of your cherished family member. These plans can be adapted and updated as needed while collaborating with other health care providers. Trying to provide a protocol and process on your own is a difficult process. Leaving this in the hands of a professional care giver will give you peace of mind and ensure that your loved one is receiving the quality care he or she deserves.
Looking to Hire a Caregiver? Free Consultation Here Or Call 415-840-7368
