If you are responsible for elderly parents or loved ones, then it is important that you keep them safe and happy. While looking after elderly people can be a challenge, it’s a necessary part of life. After a lifetime of looking after you, it’s only right that you care for your elderly loved ones in return. Living with one’s elderly loved ones can actually be a lot of fun, especially for children who may enjoy having their grandparents or other relatives around.
This post will tell you how you can keep your elderly loved ones safe and happy while looking after them:
Care Home
One thing that you might want to consider is placing your elderly loved one into a care home. The carers from Digby Manor care home in Birmingham explain on their website how stressful it can be moving your loved one from their home into a care home, but it’s a decision that you might have to make if you cannot support or look after your elderly loved one. If you intend on placing your loved one into somebody else’s care then it is very important to conduct online research and find a care home that is committed to excellence. A care home’s reviews will give you a good idea about how they treat those in their care, in addition to their industry rating. Most care homes receive star ratings from their industry regulators.
Safety Rails
If you don’t want to release your loved one into somebody else’s care, then you need to make your home safer for them. One way of doing this is the installation of safety rails, which can prevent your loved ones from falling over. You shouldn’t just install safety rails by your home’s staircases, you should also install them in the shower. It is very common for elderly people to fall over in the shower. If there isn’t a safety rail for them to grab, then as they fall they could seriously injure themselves. Safety rails aren’t especially expensive to install and are great for protecting your loved ones from falls and tumbles.
Medical Alarms
Medical alarms are a great investment, especially if you spend a lot of time away from home and your elderly loved one will be unsupervised. A medical alarm is a device that they can wear around their neck or on their wrist, which will sound as soon as they press it. Once their alarm has been sounded, an ambulance crew or specialist medical team will be dispatched to your house. It is also possible to buy alarms that come with speakerphones, that connect your loved one to a call center that can then decide who to dispatch (i.e., a doctor, ambulance crew, or nurse).
Ramp Installation
If your loved one has mobility issues and uses a wheelchair, then the installation of a ramp outside of your home’s front door is a fantastic investment. A ramp will make it easier for your loved one to come and go from the house, without your help. The installation of a ramp can be expensive and may require a building permit, so make sure that you contact your local government planning office before beginning work, just so you can be confident that you have their approval.
Bedroom Space
If an elderly loved one is going to be living with you, then it is very important that you set aside their own personal space for them. It is unfair and even cruel to expect an elderly loved one to share a bedroom with you or somebody else. Your elderly loved one’s bedroom should give them enough space to move about freely and bring their own furniture into your home. Nobody wants to go anywhere without their own belongings. If necessary, you should give up your bedroom and move into a smaller room, for their sake.
At-home Carer
An alternative to taking your loved one to go and live in a care home is an at-home carer, who will be able to look after your loved one in your absence. An at-home carer won’t be cheap, however. Sometimes they can cost thousands of dollars a month, depending on the level of care that they offer. It is usually a much better option to have your loved one cared for in a proper care home if professional help is what you desire, however, because having a carer coming and going from your home can be irritating.
If you have been charged with looking after your elderly loved one, then you need to make sure that you look after them to the best of your ability. You may want to consider putting them into care if you aren’t able to look after them yourself.
