The easiest way to begin taking care of elderly patients at home is by establishing an adult day care (ADA). Unlike an assisted living or nursing facility, you are taking care of the elderly at home throughout the day, then they go home. You can find adult day care facilities all over the United States. Some have religious ties and others are run on non-profit lines.
Careers for Seniors
Adult day care is also available through other programs that involve the community and work with seniors in a supportive environment. A common program is called Careers for Seniors that brings home care workers to the seniors’ home and provides supervision. They do not have a license and are not allowed to give medical care but instead, provide social and emotional support. Many of these programs require staff members who are in actual care of elderly patients or people with developmental disabilities.
Daycare Center
Many families cannot afford to keep an adult at home permanently. This is where an adult daycare center comes in handy. These centers are run by registered nurses and provide supervision and care while the senior is in the care of a relative. The aide is under the supervision of the senior parent. Senior parents are typically younger than their children but can be as much as 80 years old and have no physical mobility.
A Caroling
The best way to begin caring for an elderly family member or friend is to create a caroling. This is a process that involves forming a relationship with your elderly loved one and involving them in the process of finding the right caregiver. Carelinks can take the form of a referral to a specific medical professional, an agency that specializes in helping the disabled and elderly find the right situation for them, or a general agency. Your carelink provider will be a trusted and compassionate part of your elderly family’s life.
Caregiver
When looking for a caregiver you should also plan ahead for any special needs they may have. For example, if your elderly loved one has diabetes, you may need to make certain that your caregiver knows what to do in case of an emergency. If they are bedridden, you should inform your doctor about this so that the proper medications are on hand. Also, your plan ahead for any special needs is important because it can save your elderly loved one’s life and the health of other people in the home. For example, your plan ahead for meals could include having a meal prepared by a specially trained nutritionist rather than the regular meal being cooked by the senior.
Resume
In addition to considering all of your options for care giving, you should also consider your daily living situation when planning for your aging loved ones. If they are independent and able bodied, you may want to continue them in their own home and allow them some freedom to pursue their own interests. However, if they are dependent, it may be more important to provide them with some type of day care. This will ensure their basic needs are met and can keep them from becoming overwhelmed while caring for their own basic needs.
