Senior living, often known as aged care, is dedicated to the need of the elderly. It is a specialized care service for senior citizens offered by skilled and professional caregivers hired by immediate family members or on their own.
Initially, the younger generation and extended family members were responsible for looking after the family’s senior members. However, as a result of the fast-paced lifestyle and societal changes, the size of families has shrunk over time.
Importance of Senior Care
Joint families disintegrated into nuclear families, resulting in a total shift in family culture around the world.
When they grow up, children have to move to different cities due to their professional commitments away from their elder parents and find themselves unable to take care of them while being present during their ill health.
According to the current census, in the year 2021, more than 54 million residents are over the age of 65 years, with the majority of them living alone or with their immediate partners.
With old age, several health complications occur that majorly affect the quality of life of the elderly by restricting their body movements and functioning, followed by their dependency on others.
Here comes the task of finding the right fit for the elderly care and deciding whether they need companion care or personal care. The former’s job is to assist in day-to-day tasks and activities while providing emotional support, and the latter caters to the complete support for the elderly who are either bedridden or partially dependent on others.
Make a Daily Routine
A planned day ahead with a daily routine, including wake-up and sleep time to meals and medicines, schedule paired with a to-do list of errands to run, doctor’s appointment, any exercise regime if permissible as per their health condition will result in effective care.
Inform them about the healthy habits that they need to develop.
This discipline will also help the caretaker get clarity while performing their duty and reduce the margin of error.
Know Them Before You Start Caring for Them
Don’t think of your job as mechanical; you’re caring for a human, not a machine. Instead, concentrate on getting to know them, conversing with them, and allowing them to share their experiences and tales with you. To make your job easier, try to establish a healthy connection based on trust and understanding.
Owing to their diverse background, culture, and physical and emotional issues, as a caregiver, you need to be respectful and supportive with them while taking care of them.
They Need Care, Not Pampering
It’s preferable if you don’t try to make them entirely dependent on you until the situation calls for it.
Rather than taking absolute control over them, be patient and allow them to learn to accomplish their everyday activities in your presence. The goal is to keep their minds and bodies engaged.
Don’t judge them and undervalue their ability to learn, adapt, and grow.
Spend time with them and engage them in various recreational activities. Encourage them to learn a new skill set depending on their interests and hobbies.