Having a family caregiver can eliminate many of the challenges your elderly loved one experiences, increasing his or her longevity and boosting his or her quality of life. With a proper care plan in place and backup from family and friends, you can provide your parent with the support he or she needs. Below are some of the tasks you should expect to perform when caring for your loved one.
1. Manage Medications
Taking multiple prescriptions is common for older adults, but managing these medications can be challenging. Failing to manage medications properly can increase the risk of failed treatment or overmedication. Develop a plan to ensure your parent takes the proper dosage at the right time. You should also monitor your loved one’s prescriptions to share opinions and observations with his or her primary care physician.
2. Provide Transportation
Many seniors have to stop driving at some point due to vision issues, physical ailments, and cognitive impairment. As a family caregiver, you may need to take your loved one to the grocery store, doctor appointments, the gym, and to run various errands throughout the week. Schedule these outings based on your availability or find other family members and friends who can assist with transportation.
Fair Oaks elder care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
3. Assist with Meal Prep
Proper nutrition is vital for a senior’s wellbeing. The foods your loved one eats can boost his or her memory, immunity, hearing, mobility, and more. To ensure your parent eats nutritious meals and snacks, assist him or her with meal prep, which includes purchasing groceries as well as cooking meals and storing them in the refrigerator or freezer for your loved one to warm up each day.
4. Help with Mobility
Navigating the home can be difficult for older adults, particularly those living with arthritis or disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. As a result, you should expect to help your loved one move around the house, whether he or she is going from room to room or getting out of bed or a chair. Helping your parent move around can reduce the risk of falls, broken bones, and head traumas.
In-home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
5. Distract and Redirect
Aggression is common in older adults, especially as they age and their cognitive health decreases. Your role as a family caregiver is to find positive ways to distract your loved one’s attention and redirect it to a positive activity. Developing these strategies can reduce combative behavior and make your role less challenging.
6. Provide Companionship
One of the most crucial aspects of caregiving is offering emotional support. Merely being around to interact with your parent can increase his or her communication skills, reduce the risk of depression, and keep him or her mentally and emotionally stimulated.
7. Do Basic Household Chores
Cleaning up the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, home office, and other areas of the house can be challenging for a senior. To alleviate the stress of keeping a clean home, family caregivers should expect to help with basic household chores. Dusting, removing clutter, and keeping your loved one’s home organized could boost his or her concentration, prevent sadness, and lower the risk of slips and falls.
If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior loved one in Fair Oaks, respite care is available when you need time away from your important caregiving duties. At Home Care Assistance, our respite caregivers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help your loved one manage everyday tasks in the comfort of home while you have the chance to take a much-needed break. To learn about our high-quality in-home care services, give us a call at (916) 485-4663 today.