The UK population is undergoing a massive shift, in terms of age groups. There are over 11 million people aged 65 and in ten years’ time this will have increased to 13 million people, 22% of the population. This means that more than ever, we’re going to have a generation which requires care. Not everyone can afford to hire outside help and some people are uncomfortable with the idea of a stranger in their home, so a lot of care duties are falling to family members, rather than professionals. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of things that you need to think about when caring for an elderly relative:
One of the things that we’re looking forward to now that things are opening up fully is going back to taking more days out as a family. Both of our Mums also love to spend time with the kids and come along on days out as much as they can, work permitting. Something that I’ve been thinking about lately is taking my elderly Nan with us as well. She’s 86 and struggles with mobility, but she’s lucky enough to have my sister caring for her, despite the fact that she’s also disabled herself.
You are a wonderful soul if you have taken up the responsibility of taking care of an eldery person at your home. But if you have a job to work on and a house to manage, then it might start taking a toll on your mental and physical health both. This is why caregivers are an essential part of each society. They are the best helping hand for people who are unable to manage and multi-task between their house and job chores and proper medical care for an adult. This is where respite care also comes into consideration. You might be confused as to what it is? Well, let’s find out.
What is Respite Care?
Respite care is a “temporary” service that is provided to caregivers so that they can take a break from their hectic schedules. It allows them to step back and pay attention to their wellbeing for a little while. A private caregiver is appointed to you, according to the medical condition of your loved one. Respite cares ensure that the healthcare provider, appointed to you, is of the appropriate level that you require and is capable of giving you the right personal and medical assistance.
Can I get Respite Care at Home?
Yes, you can and this is the key difference between a respite care facility and a retirement home. Respite care longs for 63 days at most. You can decide whether you want the healthcare provider at your place or you want to shift your loved one to a residential place where they are taken care of, for a specific time period. If you’re looking for senior living options in NJ, for instance, respite care might give you some support in the meantime. This is only temporary and the respite care ends after 63 days, by all means.
Thus, it is quite different from a retirement home. A retirement home is a permanent residence for old people and they consider it as their new home. Their loved ones can take them home for some days or go and meet them for a few hours every now and then. However, in respite care, it is similar to hiring a private caregiver for your grandparents or a loved one.
How does Respite Care Help?
So how is respite care helpful? Well, it is one of the best services you can get at home, for your loved ones without having to send them away. Even if you do send them to a respite care home, it is only temporarily and not permanently. This type of care giving service is best for parents or grandparents who are ill for a short time period or have been through an accident or a mishap.
No matter how great you are at multitasking, there are days when you are worn out and tired. To get a break from the burn out, the option of a respite care is certainly one of the best ones to avail.
How much does it cost?
A respite care costs vary accordingly. Every respite care authority will state a different price. You can always look out for 2-3 options and then choose the one that suits you the best and is easy on your budget too. Also, insurance does not cover your respite care mostly. Thus, it is always best to check in with your insurance provider, if you are confused about it.
CONCLUSION:
Respite care workers can be found online. You can research for many and find the ones that suit your needs. Make sure to inquire about their services in detail before hiring a caregiver from them.
There comes a time in a lot of people’s lives where they need to start making arrangements to help their elderly relatives. A lot of people get older but want to remain in the home they’ve known for decades, and that means making their environment safe and suitable for their additional needs, if they have limited mobility, sight or memory problems. There are lots of ways that you can make a home suitable again, and today we’re looking at five of them. If your budget allows, it’s also worth considering hiring someone to look after them in their own home, simply Google a phrase such as looking for companion care in Tucson? with your own home town and you’ll be sure to find a lot of places offering elderly care.
Stairlift
If your elderly relative lives in a house with more than one storey, getting up and down the stairs can be really daunting. As well as the physical effort needed to climb the stairs, the risk of a fall gets worse as they get older. This is where a stairlift could really help. It allows people to travel safely between floors without the risk of falling, or needing to expend a lot of energy to make the climb.
Alarm System
A lot of elderly people worry about having a fall in their home and not being able to call for help, so personal alarm systems can give a lot of peace of mind. They allow people to call for help in an emergency and an ambulance to be sent remotely so that they aren’t left by themselves in an emergency.
Walk-in Bath
Although showers can be built on floor level so that you don’t need to step up to get into them, many elderly people prefer the security of sitting down in a bath, although getting into one can be very tricky. A walk-in bath has a sealed door which opens and closes and allows people to sit comfortably to wash, reducing the risk of slipping and falling when you’re at your most vulnerable.
Video Doorbells
Many elderly people fear opening the door to an unknown person, especially once the sun has gone down, and this can leave them very isolated, especially in the winter. There are lots of video doorbells on the market now which allow people to see who’s at the door without needing to answer it, and this could give your elderly relative the freedom to know when it’s safe to answer the door.
Remove Obstacles
This is the simplest, and cheapest way, to make surroundings safer for your elderly relative. Thousands of accidents happen every year when elderly people, especially those with limited eyesight, trip and fall because of things like rug edges, electrical cords and low items of furniture. It could be a good idea to get an expert to come in to assess the house as they’ll spot hazards that you might miss.
It’s important that we all face up to the fact that one day our parents won’t be able to do much for themselves anymore. As they age, they will start to get quite frail and weak, which will make some tasks quite a bit harder for them. They might not be able to drive anymore or do something that we take for granted, such as climb the stairs. In addition, we also need to protect our elderly online. It’s always best to be prepared in life, so you might want to think about how you and your family will cope when the time comes to start taking care of your elderly parents.
You will need to think about the responsibility involved with caring for aging parents, and how you can give them all the care and attention that they will need. Read on to find out more!
Hold A Family Meeting
If you have one, two, or even more siblings, it’s important that you share the responsibility of looking after your parents and thinking about their future. So, it’s worth holding a family meeting. This gives you all the chance to sit down together and consider the pros and cons of all the options available to your parents. It’s essential that you have your parents at this meeting too as they should have a say in their own care.
Consider What Your Parents Need And Want
Of course, you always need to put your parents’ needs and wants first when you are coming to a decision. If one of them has a long-term health condition, then you need to give that priority. It might require you to find some extra care for your parents so that they can enjoy their later years in comfort. It’s also important that you ask your parents about what they want from their care and support. They deserve an input in this after all!
Think About How Much Money Is Available
If you are considering moving your parents into a care home, it’s necessary to think about how much money there is to put towards this. If you can’t afford this, you might have to move in with them and care for them yourself. Don’t worry if this is the case, though, as there are plenty of benefits to home care that will be really advantageous for your parents.
Are You Prepared To Be A Caregiver?
If you and your siblings do decide to care for your parents yourselves and share the responsibility between all of you, you need to make sure you are all prepared for the role of caregiver. It will be a big change for everyone, especially as you will all undergo a role reversal. You will now be responsible for your parents, and they might need to take some time to adjust to this change in your relationship. After a while, though, you should all settle into your new roles and will all benefit from them.
Hopefully, these tips make it easier for your family to care for your elderly parents.
