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Taking care of the ones who took care of you
The growing prevalence of aging societies isn’t just a challenge for governments, policymakers and healthcare providers to solve. Rather, it affects everyone who has, or will have, an elder family member or loved one in their lives.
Here, we listed a few tips for the individuals who are caring for their elderly loved ones. Caring for our elderlies is not just an individual responsibility, rather it is the responsibility of our community.
1. Check Their Medication
Other than accompanying them to doctor’s appointments, be sure that these elders are appropriately supplied with their medications. If they are on a number of medications, you can also buy a pill box organiser with compartments labeled with the days of the week. This will help to simplify their medication taking process, especially if there are many different medications for the day and night.
It will also be good to get acquainted with their medications - this way, you will be in the loop of the illnesses that your elder loved one is facing and knowing to spot the telltale signs of any symptoms.
2. Make the Home Safe and Accessible
Create a safe environment for your loved ones. One recommendation would be to look around the home and assess what may be a safety hazard. This might include:
Installing handrails and grab bars at the toilet and shower
Installing a ramp for wheelchairs or walkers
Testing (or installing) smoke detectors
Plugging in a few auto-sensor night lights throughout the home so they are able to see if they wake up at night
Making sure there are non-skid or non-slippery mats in the bathroom or any other potential slippery areas of the house
Removing extra clutter that is lying around or furniture that is in the way
3. Keep Them Active
Keeping your elderly loved one active and involved is important, especially for their health as well. Exercise is important to keep them healthy - both physically and mentally.
It is important to ensure they remain involved with family and friends too, so that they will not feel isolated or lonely. You can also check out the resources available in your neighbourhood, such as activities or programmes that they might be able to join!
4. Stay up to date on the Latest Technology
We live in a technology-forward society and world. Many amenities and services are now available online, such as booking and checking appointment dates, paying bills or even using your TraceTogether App!
It’s important, even for older adults, to keep abreast of new technologies that can improve every aspect of care your loved ones receive; like being able to book or check their health appointments or learning how to arrange for video calls to keep social interaction.
Taking small steps to educate and impart this knowledge to your loved ones would be beneficial for both you and them!
5. Take care of the Caregivers/ Yourself
Like the scenario of putting your own oxygen mask on before attending to others’ masks, you first have to take care of yourself before taking care of anyone else.
Find ways to nourish your body and spirit to ensure that you have the stamina and energy to be a caregiver. It’s equally important that you remember to take breaks and enjoy your life as well.
At Global Ehsan Relief, we believe that our elderlies deserve a better standard of living, especially in their silver age. We want to be able to give our elders a comfortable living and provide them with necessities and assistance - both physically and emotionally. Join us in our cause by donating to our Care for The Elderly project.
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