If you have decided to be a family caregiver, it could be one of the best times of your life, but many challenges and responsibilities come with the job. The type of care seniors need depends on their physical, mental, and emotional health. Here are some of the most essential duties you will have as a family caregiver.
1. Making the Home Safe
Moving around the home is important for seniors, but caregivers need to make sure every room in the home is safe. This includes the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room, and hallways. Furniture should be out of your loved one’s way, and all rooms should be clutter-free. You may need to install grab bars and extra lighting in the home as well to prevent slips, falls, and injuries.
If you are the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality home care, Windermere Prestige Home Care can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
2. Preparing Healthy Meals
Eating healthy meals and snacks helps seniors increase their mental, physical, and emotional health. Some foods provide the antioxidants necessary to fight against toxins that impact the body and increase the odds of developing vision, hearing, and memory loss. Some foods also increase the odds of a stroke, heart attack, diabetes, various types of cancer, and other health conditions. Make sure your loved one eats healthy snacks and meals throughout the day, getting the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients he or she needs.
3. Assisting with Medical Needs
Some seniors can live longer, healthier lives and recover at a faster rate from the comfort of their homes. Seniors can boost their overall health by being surrounded by their personal belongings and being near family and close friends. By staying in contact with your loved one’s doctor and developing a medical care plan, helping your loved one remain healthy is possible. Family caregivers also need to make sure their loved ones are taking their medications correctly and following every order given by their doctor.
4. Cleaning the House
Maintaining a home becomes more difficult as a person ages. Seniors become less active and experience physical issues that prevent them from cooking, cleaning, bathing, grooming, and running errands. Family caregivers can help their loved ones manage housekeeping duties, making it easier to age in place.
Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to an assisted living facility. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Prestige Home Care, a leading Prestige Home Care, home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.
5. Offering Companionship
Being isolated is an issue many aging adults face, and it can have a negative impact on their health. Family caregivers provide seniors with companionship and the social interaction all people crave. Your physical presence could boost your loved one’s mental and emotional health and prevent issues such as obesity, chronic stress, and depression.
6. Providing Physical Assistance
Your loved one’s metabolism and muscle strength may begin to decrease, and he or she may become less active. However, it is extremely important for aging adults to stay active and move around. As a family caregiver, you will need to motivate your loved one to stay active. Doing so could reduce his or her risk of cardiovascular conditions, arthritis, and other health conditions. You may also need to help your loved one exercise from time to time to increase his or her muscle strength, balance, and flexibility.
Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is respite care. Altamonte Springs families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation. For reliable in-home care services, contact Prestige Home Care at (407) 232-7155.