Senior Home Care: Tips & Tricks on Caring For Elderly Loved Ones

Written by Stannah

Getting old is not an easy process and you may find that your elderly family members are often upset and frustrated. Senior home care can cause increased stress for both you and your loved one as you try to balance your life and tend to their needs simultaneously. If you are caring for elderly parents you need to do everything you can to make the process as smooth on both of you as possible.

Senior couple mountain biking on a forest trail, low angle

Here are some tips for elderly care from Today’s Caregiver to ensure your loved one feels secure and is less likely to become confused and agitated.

•         Invest in a small, lightweight water jug – Besides benefitting overall health and well-being, remaining hydrated can prevent a variety of ailments such as headaches and sleeplessness. Take this jug, keep it filled with water and place it in a convenient, accessible location. Make sure to remind your loved ones of its whereabouts and the benefits that accompany drinking plenty of water. Helping the elderly starts with just the small things!
•         Avoid excess mirrors in your home – Mirrors can become a source of angst and confusion as we age. Elderly people, especially those with dementia, may hardly recognize their reflection and upon seeing it may become startled. If you wish to have mirrors in your home make sure to purchase smaller ones and hang them high and out of sight of your elderly loved ones. Elderly health is not just their physical health, but their mental health too.
•         Large dials and number pads reduce confusion – If your loved ones would like to watch television make sure that you purchase a universal remote with large, easy-to-read numbers. The same concept applies for home telephones and mobiles. Make sure the phone has oversized numbers that are easy to see and dial. You can find many different designs specifically for seniors at the Independent Living Centres Australia website. Digital clocks with bold, large and bright faces will prevent the confusion and frustration that may come with trying to read a traditional three-hand clock.
•         Buy clothing in basic colours and designs – Simple colours such as black, beige, white, cream and green make outfit decisions easy and stress-free. Additionally, make sure to separate clothing to prevent confusion. Place all shirts on one side of the closet and then utilize the other half for shorts, pants and skirts. If an article of clothing has been neglected for a long period of time, relocate it to another closet or box to reduce clutter. Helping the elderly may mean removing excess stress from decision making.

It’s important to give your elderly loved ones a feeling of control and sense of importance. Allowing them to make decisions will prevent them from becoming frustrated and annoyed.

The inability to move freely within their own home can create a sense of hopelessness and loss of this control. A Stannah Stairlift can help rid your loved one of this anxiety and reduce the stress brought upon by immobility. If you feel that a stairlift would benefit in your care for elderly, you can find more information about Stannah Stairlifts and how Stannah can help on this page. You will be pleasantly surprised at each stair chair lift available and the stair lift prices.

It’s important to limit choices and keep things simple to reduce stress while still maintaining a feeling of control for your loved ones. Learn more about caregiving at the Carers Australia website.