It is easy to get caught up in the everyday tasks of caregiving for an older adult you love. There is a great deal to be done, and sometimes it’s just simpler and more efficient to do it all on your own, letting a loved one relax. After all, our elders have taken care of things for a lifetime; don’t they deserve a break?
The truth, however, is that retaining independence and aging with dignity in our later years is necessary to our wellbeing, something that arises from having a sense of meaning and purpose in life. And while ensuring safety is, without a doubt, our primary concern, there are ways to empower a senior loved one in your care to remain in control whenever possible. For example:
• Work together on chores. While standing at the sink and cleaning pots and pans might be unsafe or difficult for a senior, maybe he or she can sit at the table and dry them. The senior may not be in a position to bake a cake from start to finish but can mix ingredients as you reminisce about recipes made over the years. It might take a little planning, even so it’s worthwhile to identify ways to alter tasks to include the senior’s help as much as possible.
• Allow for decision-making. Look for opportunities to ask for the senior’s knowledge, allowing her or him to remain in control. As opposed to assuming she or he will want a ham sandwich for lunch, ask. Before automatically accompanying a senior loved one to the physician’s office for an exam, ask if she or he would like you there. Having a say in even the smallest of decisions will make a difference in self-esteem.
• Ensure safety with respect. Safety is, naturally, very important, but there are ways to make sure a senior stays safe without overstepping boundaries. Medical alert systems, for example, are a good strategy to encourage independence in older adults while providing them with the means to call easily for help when needed.
• Partner with trained caregivers from an agency. Some seniors balk at the idea of their adult children assisting them with personal care needs, such as using the toilet or taking a bath. A professional care provider, who is skilled and experienced in helping seniors maintain dignity while staying safe, is oftentimes a more agreeable solution.
Connect with the professional care team at Independence-4-Seniors Home Care for more information about our trusted in-home care services, always provided with the respect and attention to dignity older adults deserve. We’re available for as little as a couple of hours weekly up through and including 24/7 care. Call us at (630) 323-4665 today and discover how we provide the kind of senior care Westchester and nearby communities in the Western Cook and DuPage County areas prefer most!