Care For Elderly In Home - Tips and Ideas
...Whether a loved one is staying in their own home or moving in with someone else (perhaps you). This may involve big changes in life style which must be thought through in advance. It is important to stress right here, that you cannot do this alone, even if you are doing it alone. And there are many ways to find support, help, resources (see below). In Minnesota, the state’s trend is to encourage care for elderly in home, including with a loved, one for as long as possible. The reasons? One is cost. It is less expensive and therefore seniors do not go through their assets as rapidly, at which point the state would need to subsidize care. Another is health and well-being. The state is very aware that senior health and elderly problems, including memory and mood, are much better when living with loved ones, largely due to better nutrition, social interaction, personal supervision, and mental stimulation. Every situation with care for elderly in home is unique and different – there is no great panacea to solve all issues and questions on care for elderly in home. But there are common tips to consider. First, educate yourself as to the fundamentals of caregiving, and of typical caregiver duties. Some of the preparations of care for elderly in home must clearly be done before an elderly loved one moves in with you. Or, if they are remaining at home, then assess and take action right away. With the right approach and resources, it is very possible to care for elderly in home for a long time. Here is my story and what I needed to do to move my father in with me, from assisted living, and why. He felt that at this time of his life, the most important thing to him was to live with family for as long as possible. His is almost fully deaf-blind, but is otherwise is very good health. And I was in a position to be able to work mostly from home. No matter what the circumstances, care for elderly in home involves many of the same considerations. 
there are several categories to consider for your particular situation:
Dad was already in very good health, exercised a lot, and had excellent nutrition. (If you’d like elderly nutrition tips, see our page on Elderly Nutrition.) For us, the main issues regarding care for elderly in home were safety, and social and mental stimulation. Nevertheless, I knew I had to be prepared that anything could change in any area at any time. I had to have a game plan in place. There were many specifics to plan for with care for elderly in home. It is different for everyone. Some of the situations we had to think through are below. 
Emergency and DirectionsCare for elderly in home requires detailed information that all involved have access to. On the fridge, post a sheet of paper with all of the necessary medical information, doctors, hospital, important phone numbers and addresses, who has power of attorney, who are the primary contacts, etc. Also include detailed prescription and medication information and schedule. This for anyone who may need to help in an emergency. The information should also be given to all appropriate family members or caregivers who will be involved with your loved one. Make sure power of attorney has been designated, as well as an executor, plus healthcare directives in place. Make sure there is a letter of instruction, a will, living trust, etc. The appropriate family members or people involved should all be given the same information. For more details on this, see our page called Estate Planning Guide and Legal Documents. 
Help and ResourcesWhen you care for elderly in home, you do not need to feel alone. Research and make a list of various resources in your community that you may need to draw on should something occur:
HealthThis is a vast topic. With care for elderly in home, there are a myriad health issues that can come and go, some will be more serious. You must be very knowledgeable about all current health issues, treatments, medications, and what the doctor believes could be expected to occur in the future (if known). Dad and I determined that as things occurred, we would call upon home healthcare when necessary, allowing him to stay living with me as long as possible. In the meantime, I took precautionary steps for “just in case” scenarios. With care for elderly in home, you never know what can come up. One of them was purchasing incontinence products in advance, should that situation come up, and special cleaning products. Talk to your loved one’s doctor and local pharmacist for guidelines about products, sanitation, assistance, procedures, and other matters. Play out possible scenarios in your mind and how you would handle them. What would you do, at least temporarily, and who would you then go to for help. 
CommunicationCare for elderly in home necessitates efficient communication on many levels. We already mentioned the information sheet on the fridge. We arranged for a Lifeline pendant for when I went out. This assured that he would be able to contact either the designated persons or to get emergency help. Dad also wanted a loud whistle so he could summon me in case of emergency, if I was in another room, or at night. We will also consider an intercom system in our bedrooms, in the future. Dad had large-print phones with volume control, which he was able to basically hear. We put one in his bedroom, the sitting room, and in the main living room area. When family or friends called in, he was able to talk to them. He could also call out by using a one-touch speed dial system. Raised buttons were adhered to certain numbers on the phone, for easy identification. Bathroom Grips bars were also installed alongside the toilets. In the event of more serious mobility problems, there are many kinds of assistive frames that can be installed around the toilet. Any special toileting or incontinence products would be stored in the bathroom. 
KitchenDad had always been a good cook and had done all of his own cooking himself, three meals a day, until he was 93 and unable to because of vision. He understood that cooking was no longer possible, and he was not interested because of safety. We stuck raised buttons on the microwave numbers, though, so that he could help me heat things or make popcorn. (While I was there). He was very good about not using any kitchen appliances when I was out. We used only unbreakable dishes and glasses. Sharp knives were placed out of reach. Care for elderly in home often means making adjustments in household arrangements. Stairs At the top of the upstairs, we installed a door that was the height of the partial wall at the landing (it came up to above his stomach). We sawed off a regular, heavy wooden door (bought at a discount) down to size, then installed it on full hinges that swung the door all the way back against the wall when we wanted it open. It also had an easy double latch that made it impossible to move if Dad happened to lose his balance and fall against the door. 
Care for elderly in home also involves fun! Plan with your loved one about what activities, hobbies, and projects they enjoy, and which chores they can help with to keep busy. This also allows them to feel a sense of contribution. Also ask them which activities they want you to participate in, and which they like to do by themselves. One of our favorites is me reading aloud. Each evening I read from a book, and twice a week I read him the local newspaper. A schedule is very important to the elderly (and caregiver), to add structure, continuity and something to look forward to and count on. Within this schedule can be variety or something new and fun. Most elderly need consistent meal and snack times. When you go out, decide which outings they can come along on. Especially during inclement weather. My father liked to walk. This was difficult during the winter in Minnesota, and when living with me he no longer had long halls to walk down, as when he was in assisted living. So his doctor recommended a very simple treadmill. We also planned for him to accompany me to the grocery store, department stores, or large discount stores, and do some walking in the aisles with me. If he got tired, we sat him on a bench or in the in-store coffee area for awhile. We went to church every Sunday as much as possible and if we couldn’t, we watched services on TV. 
Your circumstances will be yours. Everybody’s are different. But perhaps these tips and experiences about care for elderly in home will trigger more ideas for you. I can’t stress enough how important careful planning is. Also of utmost importance is to learn to relax, go with the flow, and accept What Is. Much of the struggle that we experience, as I’m sure you’re aware, is brought upon ourselves by our own thinking. Often what we worry about never happens. Yet other things happen and elderly problems come up that we never thought of. It is all unpredictable. It’s life. You learn to live in the Now, as they say. Caregiving involves Care and Giving, two very wonderful words. So relax and enjoy this time with your loved one. You’ll be less stressed. And you will be making very special memories.And know that you are not alone. There is a wealth of resources and help out there. Find out about them and get them in place as soon as you can. This will help with your peace of mind, and allow you to also take care of yourself. Return from Care For Elderly In Home - Tips and Ideas copyright 2009-2011, OneSong, LLC
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