Home Care: Getting Ready
Senior care may be hampered by dangerous clutter
Most of us have “been there,” in the clutter zone, at some point. But generally, the clutter is manageable. Unfortunately, often this is not the case with elderly loved ones who have too much stuff. Frequently they can’t organize it or throw out because of physical or cognitive limitations, or emotional attachments to the clutter.
Also unfortunately, family caregivers may need to be the ones to step in to get the clutter under control. This isn’t just to make the living environment more pleasant. It can be a matter of health and safety. If you’re wondering whether an elderly loved has a serious clutter problem, it’s a good idea to do a walk-through in their home:
- Is there rotten or expired food in the fridge or cupboards? Your elderly relative may suffer food poisoning or fail to eat because foods are unappetizing.
- Are kitchen cabinets piled with dishes and pans that are difficult to get out or put away? Seniors may avoid preparing food or be injured by dishes tumbling from high shelves.
- Is the bathroom full of expired medications and/or are toiletries piled on the vanity or floor? Falls, slipping, and serious reactions from medications are possible.
- Is the house full of old magazines and newspapers? In addition to being a fire hazard, piles of paper can attract rodents or cause elderly people to trip.
- Has the basement or attic become a giant closet full of unused items? Again, fire and rodents are risks. Mold can also become a dangerous health hazard.
- Are stairways or hallways blocked with shoes, papers, or other clutter? Stairs are an especially dangerous place for storing items, particularly if they are not well lighted. A fall downstairs can cause serious injury.
If you observe even one of these situations, it’s time to sit down and have a talk with the senior about how you can come up with solutions to make their living space safer and more pleasant. Many organizations and other resources are out there to make the task easier. You can find several of them here: A Caregiver’s Guide to Spot Clutter Creep
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
What happens when senior caregivers become seniors themselves?
Any of us who are home caregivers for elderly relatives know how much planning and work is involved in meeting their needs. We also come to realize how helpful it would be for our own kids or other family members if we planned ahead for our senior years.
It’s true that this planning takes time and money, but it can make our later years much more secure and happy. Planning is also a lot easier when you can do it in advance, at your leisure, instead of when an urgent need arises.
The recently published Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions (Paul and Lori Hogan, McGraw-Hill, 2009) provides some useful hints on organizing your future:
- Prioritize your needs beyond the essentials of housing and food. Is continuing education important to you, or annual vacations with family, or a property that allows you to garden?
- Ensure that your home is “elder-friendly” for the years to come. If you’re moving, for instance, keep in mind that you may not want to climb a lot of stairs in 15 years.
- Plan your estate and make sure your will is in order.
- Prepare an advance directive that details your wishes if you cannot make medical decisions yourself.
- Assign a power of attorney in case you are disabled by illness or an accident.
- Provide your family with instructions about your final wishes when you die.
- Research long-term care protection. A policy can help pay for professional nonmedical home care or other care needs.
Having plans in place for your own future will mean you have one less thing to worry about in your busy life. That can help decrease stress and increase everybody’s quality of life as you care for your own parents.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Parents’ senior home care depends on family involvement
Knowing where to start can be the biggest hurdle when you’re planning your parents’ senior care. What do they want? What can they—and you—afford? How do you find the resources and support you need for successful home care?
Breaking the planning process down, step by step, can make decisions on home care more manageable and less stressful:
Talk to your parents. Ask them what they want and think they need. You can find pointers on starting the conversation at http://www.4070.talk.com- Find local resources. In Northern Colorado, visit the websites of the Foundation on Aging for Larimer County and the Larimer County Office on Aging.
- Assist your parents with a health assessment. This should cover physical, emotional, and mental health.
- Include other family members. Make sure you have the input and support of siblings, other family members, and close friends.
- Consider the options. Think of various services your elderly parents may need. Keep an initial care plan flexible.
- Remember that aging is an ongoing process. Think about the types of care your parents may need in future.
- Consider finances. Be aware of your parents’ finances and think about ways to fund care. Speaking to a financial planner may be helpful.
- Help your parents stay in their own home for as long as possible. Consult the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for information on home adaptations for aging in place.
- Think about end-of-life decisions. Everyone should have a will and make end-of-life decisions well in advance of the time that these are necessary.
- Be sure you have support. Seek support from family members and friends, or visit http://www.caregiverstress.com for assistance.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
Aging in place: safe and enjoyable, but barriers remain
While we family caregivers want to help our elderly relatives stay in their own homes so they can “age in place” in familiar surroundings, we also want their living environment to be safe and provide the supports they need. Often the home where they’ve lived for years isn’t “senior compatible.”
Fortunately, there are some ways to help ensure parents or other relatives can continue to live at home comfortably, remain part of the community, and stay close to other family members. Depending on a senior’s needs, adaptations to houses sometimes can be made quickly and inexpensively.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has a printable fact sheet outlining some changes that are helpful in seniors’ homes.
You might want to think about these for your elderly family member. They include:
- lever-style door handles.
- non-slip flooring in entryways.
- handrails wherever there are steps.
- bright lighting throughout the house, and especially on stairs.
- lighting from multiple directions to reduce glare.
- contrasting colors for depth perception (e.g., stairs that are darker around the edges).
You might also consider contacting a local Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)-trained remodeler for assistance in adapting an elderly relative’s home. The NAHB has a searchable online directory of CAPS professionals in Northern Colorado.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our home care services in Northern Colorado, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
What to do when seniors won’t accept help at home
Staying independent is a big issue for a lot of seniors—over 80% who were polled in a recent survey said they were very or somewhat likely to stay in their own homes. Independence is great, but sometimes that means elderly relatives aren’t willing to accept the support and help they need.
So what can you do if you’re a concerned family member? You can see that your relative may need a little assistance with household chores or running errands, but he or she may think that accepting help is the first step to becoming dependent on other people.
Starting a conversation in the right way is important. Seniors should never feel forced to accept help. The following is one approach that may help elderly relatives view help in a more positive way:
- Let them know that you and other family members want them to remain at home, and that you’re looking out for their best interests.
- Mention that the best way to stay at home is to accept some help from you or others.
- Ask if they would prefer a family caregiver or a professional caregiver who can provide a few hours of help a week.
- Reassure them that they are in charge of the situation.
While there’s no guarantee elderly relatives will be willing to accept help, talking about it calmly and presenting options will let them know they still have control over their own lives.
Senior Care is personal to us. Request information about our services, OR call us at 970-494-0289.
