by My Choice Home Care | Jul 22, 2016 | Senior Home Care
Each time your aging loved one goes into their bathroom, the risk of injury is greater than you may realize. A bathroom which may have served as a perfectly functional and safe area in the past may now need to be re-evaluated for possible hazards. Bathrooms have slippery surfaces, and few dependable things to grasp onto, which greatly increase the chances for harm to your aging loved one. Injuries due to a fall range from minor cuts, scrapes and bruises to more severe injuries, such as broken bones such as hip fractures, head contusions, and even spinal cord injury. Poor muscle strength and balance associated with aging increasing the risk for your loved one. Many falls occur while getting in and out of the tub/shower, sitting down and getting up from the toilet, using towel bars, sink tops, or other surfaces for support.
In addition to decreased strength and balance associated with aging, bathrooms often have shower chairs that are not slip resistant, towel racks that could fall when gripped for support, bathtubs that are hard to get into and out of, slippery surfaces and low toilets that are hard to get up from. These factors along with the physical limitations of aging make for a situation that could serve as a catalyst for a serious injury.
For peace of mind home care, a safer bathroom is an important element.
Below are a several safety measures that you can reduce the risk for you aging loved one:
• Install grab bars for balance
• Purchase a shower chair for less risk to fall
• Install a tub-attached grab bar to help your loved one in and out
• Use a bath bench to transfer in and out of the shower/bath
• Utilize a rubber non-slip bath mat
• Place Non-slip adhesive strips in the bathtub
• Purchase a raised toilet seat to help your loved one up and down
• Place toiletries within your aging loved one’s reach
• Have a companion caregiver nearby for assistance
• Clean soap scum from tubs regularly to prevent slipping
• Have a telephone (or medical alert system)installed in the bathroom
• Make sure that the bathroom area is well-lit
As your loved one ages, keeping them injury free can be as simple as installing safety devices in their bathroom. Prevent injury and a lengthy recovery with the simple measures mentions above as well as consulting with your aging loved one’s companion caregiver about their daily habits. The companion caregiver will be able to help you see areas that may need safe-proofing depending on your loved ones needs in addition to these suggestions. If you are in need of a companion caregiver, give us a call at 828.200.9000 and let’s talk about the best solution to fit your needs.
by My Choice Home Care | Jul 14, 2016 | Senior Home Care
Caring for an aging loved one involves juggling a lot of information, i.e. doctor’s appointments, care instructions, medications, and medical lingo. This can lead to a bit of stress for you and your aging loved one but the stress is manageable with thoughtful practices. One of the keys to caring for your aging loved one is making sure that they are taking the correct medication at the right time and watching out for possible dangerous interactions or side effects.
Medication management is simpler when you keep a checklist of all the prescription and over-the-counter medications your aging loved one takes. For each medicine, mark the amount they take, the time of day they take it, and whether it should be taken with food. Note which side effects your aging loved one may experience in coordination with which medications. Keep multiple copies of this list in easy to access places like your kitchen, bathroom, and purse so that you have it handy whenever there is a question.
It may be overwhelming for your aging loved one to remember which medications treat which illness, how often they should take each one, how much to take, and how taking the medication will make them feel physically and mentally. From aspirin to the most sophisticated prescription medicine on the market, all drugs come with side effects. Many are insignificant, some are just an inconvenience, a few are serious, and some are just odd. Perhaps the most common set of side effects for drugs taken internally involves the gastrointestinal system. Nearly any drug can cause nausea or an upset stomach, though it may only happen to a handful of users. Keeping this in mind, might help make your aging loved one more comfortable and less stressed.
The medication management checklist will be a useful tool to keep your aging loved one, yourself, and the companion caregiver informed. Having everyone on the same page with medication management will help your aging adult stay calm and reduce the stress in their lives. In the case of an uncomfortable side-effect, your aging loved one will be comforted knowing which medication may be causing it.
At every visit to the doctor and whenever the doctor prescribes new medicine, review this checklist. The doctor may have new information about the medicines that might be important. If possible, have the health care provider write down advice and instructions for taking each medication. Keep this information handy on the checklist.
When it comes to taking care of your aging loved one, peace of mind home care means reducing stress in any way that you can, and one of those means is to be organized and well-informed. If you are juggling too much information to keep up with, our licensed professionals are trained to issue medication reminders and able to conduct medication reviews to ensure that the medicines your loved one is taking are the right ones. If you would like to discuss how we can help, give us a call at 828.200.9000
by My Choice Home Care | Aug 22, 2014 | Senior Home Care
Often times, for aging adults one of the hardest things to deal with is the feeling of losing their independence. The ability to drive and transport themselves is often something they want to hold on to for as long as possible, even when it is not always safe.
If you are concerned about the ability for an aging loved one in your life to drive, you should address your concerns promptly and honestly. Delaying the inevitable conversation could result in an accident that could otherwise be avoided.
How to talk to them
Plan ahead. Be prepared for the conversation to be met with opposition and frustration. Driving is a privilege that many older adults are not willing to give up, even when they know they should.
Be ready to listen. You should also keep an open mind and be willing to listen to the objections and concerns that your aging loved one has. You need to be able to offer solutions to their questions as well as words of encouragement during the transition.
Chances are, your loved one is not going to voluntarily surrender their ticket to mobility and independence. And by law, you can not force them to stop driving unless they have dementia or other serious ailment. Ultimately, it is their choice whether or not to stop driving.
Try a plan where they just drive less
Develop a regular schedule to stop by your loved one’s home with supplies such as groceries household items, medicines and just for a visit. Offering in-home companionship and running errands for your loved one will reduce the likelihood they will need to leave the home.
Keep driving times for your aging loved ones as safe as possible by reducing the amount they drive in bad weather or at night time. If it is snowing and they have a doctor’s visit or some other need to get out of the house, find an alternative to them driving themselves as the safety risks are heighten during bad weather. If there is risk of icy roads or power outages, be sure to not allow them to begin a drive or road trip.
How to stop them from driving
If your loved one is still legally able to drive, but you are convinced it is hazardous and unsafe, it may be time to force the issue.
To better help your loved one understand the situation, call a family meeting and get as many people as possible on board. Seeing the concern from multiple family members may help your aging loved one better understand the seriousness of the situation.
Consult a doctor or expert that your loved one feels comfortable with and trusts. Hearing the opinion and recommendation from a professional may make the transition easier.
The most important thing to remember when beginning the discussion regarding driving is to remain objective. Consider the impact and sense of a loss of independence the decision will have on your loved one. It is not going to be easy and opening up a fair and honest discussion rather than strictly enforcing a mandate will help the transition go as smooth as possible.
Does your aging loved one need help with transportation?
My Choice Home Care understands you have a busy schedule. If at anytime you are unable to transport your elderly friend or family member please contact us about our solutions. Fill out the contact form at bottom of this page or give us a call at 1.828.200.9000
by My Choice Home Care | Aug 12, 2014 | Senior Home Care
Aging is just a factor of life. We all grow old. And as we begin to age, day to day task become increasingly more difficult to do alone. There comes a point in every person’s life to where they are no longer able to solely care for themselves.
When that point comes, a lot of aging adults rely on family members to become their caregivers. From travel, to cooking meals, to daily chores around the house, the assistance needs of elderly adults may vary, but are an inevitable part of life.
For family members, adjusting to the transition of being a member of a family to being a caregiver can be a difficult and confusing time. Hopefully, these 3 things will help prepare you and your family during the transition process.
3 things to expect when caring for a loved one
1) Prepare yourself emotionally.
For most of your life, those older than you have cared for you. They have taken care of you and you have looked up to them and admired them as leaders in your life. There comes a point in your life when that is going to change and you are going to take on that role for them.
Before you take on the task of caring for a loved one, you need to adequately prepare yourself for the emotional toll of seeing your loved ones become more and more dependent on care and assistance and less like the image of them that you are familiar with.
2) Set boundaries before you ever begin.
A lot of time caregivers take on the role over time. It starts out as bringing a warm meal over during the week. Then running errands like picking up groceries or going to the pharmacy, and before you know it, your loved one needs your help for more and more tasks.
Although it may be extremely difficult to set up boundaries with someone you love, it is necessary. It is not feasible for you to do whatever is asked of you, whenever it is asked for your loved one. In many instances, caring for someone can quickly become a full-time job, so before you ever start, have a talk with your loved one and set up a list of things and times you are able to help.
3) Don’t forget to take care of yourself.
When someone else needs you for their food, grooming, social interaction and other daily tasks, it is easy to forget to take care of yourself. Your instincts are going to lead you to surrender yourself completely to ensure that your aging loved one is completely taken care of, after all, you may be all they have.
But if you are not taking time to rejuvenate and ensure that you are not stretched too thin or too overwhelmed, then you are not going to be of any help to your loved one anyway. Taking care of yourself and ensuring you are in the best physical and mental shape will allow you to best care for your loved one.
If taking care of your loved one is becoming too much of a toll on your schedule and your physical and mental health, let us help. We offer caregivers and companions anywhere from a few hours a day to 24/7. Give us a call at 1.828.200.9000 or fill out our contact form and we will discuss the best possible solution for you and your family.
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