 |
| Courtesy of |
Watching a
loved one deteriorate, whether it is physically, mentally or both, is a very
difficult process. You have wonderful memories of your parents in their prime
at family dinners and outings, giving of themselves and creating memories that
last a lifetime. They raised their families and worked hard to provide for
their loved ones. They were war veterans, entrepreneurs, musicians, doctors,
teachers, and so much more. They made major contributions to society with their
work ethic and love for their family. It was difficult to imagine they would
ever grow old. For that matter, you probably thought you would be young forever
and always have the comfort of knowing you would always have that shoulder to
lean on.
Now the roles
have reversed. You are seeing changes in your parents that make you worry and even
occasionally step up to take a little more control of their lives. They don’t
want to feel like a burden, so it becomes a sensitive issue. It’s a fact that
people are living much longer than they did in the past. However, it’s also difficult for most people
to ask for help when they need it most. Admitting they need help represents a
loss of independence. This can lead to denial.
Denial is the unrealistic hope that a problem is not really happening
and will go away by itself. “Denial plays a major role and signs get ignored,”
says Paul Hogan, Founder and Chairman of Home Instead Senior Care.
 |
| Image courtesy of caregiveraction.org |
The process
of becoming the caregiver can become overwhelming, both financially and
emotionally. Whether you are prepared
for this task or not, you will be faced with making some major decisions
associated with their care. Most of us would prefer to allow our loved ones to
stay in the comfort of their homes and studies show that 80 to 90 percent of
elderly people prefer to stay at home as long as possible. You can be an
integral part of giving your parents the independence they need while having
some input to ensure they are safe and secure.
MAKING FOOD PREP EASY AND SAFE
As our loved
ones age, preparing food can be a potentially dangerous task. Gas burners and
ovens can be left on, shaky hands can lead to cuts and burns, water can be left
running and so on. Under normal circumstances, accidents do happen in the
kitchen. Did you know that home fires started by cooking equipment kill about
480 people a year? Much of that is preventable since it’s often due to leaving
cooking equipment unattended. As our loved ones age, they become more forgetful
and the likelihood of these accidents increases, which is exactly what we are
trying to help them avoid.
Eating
healthy is an essential part of keeping our bodies and minds in top form and to
guard against illness. As people age, they often tend to choose easier methods
to cook meals and that may often mean eating more canned food and frozen
dinners that have little nutritional value. As I already mentioned, accidents
can occur if they are trying to do too much food preparation.
A great
option is home food delivery. There are a number of delivery services that can deliver
healthy home cooked meals to your loved one’s door. They can also cater to the
special dietary needs of their clients. This is definitely a more expensive
option, but it can also be used as a safe supplement rather than the primary
source of food for your loved ones.
Cook in bulk for your family and
prepare portions for your parents. Thank goodness for the microwave oven. A great way to be
efficient and economical is to cook in bulk. Don’t make a pot of chili that
feeds four; make it so it feeds eight people and put it into individual
containers to bring to your parent’s home where they can eat or freeze it. Seniors
know how to use a microwave and it provides a much safer option than using the
stove or oven. More importantly, they will be eating healthy, nutritional meals
that you cooked, while at the same time reducing the chances of causing an
accident in the kitchen.
PREP THE HOME FOR SAFETY- DON’T LET
THE BATHROOM BE THE CULPRIT
According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year about 285,000 people
visit emergency rooms because of injuries suffered in the bathroom. More than a
third of these injuries occur when bathing or showering. There are
many ways to make a bathroom safer for your loved ones in order to decrease the
chances of falls which can be debilitating and potentially deadly for seniors.
1. Install grab bars near the toilet and
other places where one must stand for a period of time. Tile floors are
slippery when wet and bathroom spaces often do not have good footing. Seniors can
have issues with balance, making them particularly susceptible to falls in the
bathroom.
2. Climbing in and out of a bathtub can
be an ordeal as a person ages. A bathtub in the home can be altered with safety
features or even replaced with a more modern and safe version such as walk-in
bathtubs and safety showers. This is an expense that is well worthy of
consideration since it can contribute to the independence of older adults and
give them the privacy they desire when taking care of their bathing needs.
 |
| Safety shower image courtesy of TubKing.com |
These
showers and tubs are literally made so you can walk into them without a climb.
They have built-in seats and removable shower heads so one can sit comfortably
and safely without fear of slipping. Can you imagine how independent your loved
ones might feel knowing they are safer in the bathroom and are able to take of
their own needs? Even better, these showers and tubs are made so anyone can
walk into them without a climb. Can you imagine how independent your loved ones
would feel knowing they are safer in the bathroom and are able to take of their
own needs?
PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR MEDICAL AND
PHYSICAL NEEDS
Don’t rely
on your parents to remember to take their medications if they need them. Set up
a system to ensure they are taking their prescribed medications. Did you know
there are “smart” pill bottles on the market? They have 3G capabilities and
sensors that can track humidity levels within the bottle to “sense” how many
pills or fluid ounces are left inside. Amazing! That data is then sent into the
cloud and can remind people via a telephone call or text.
Focus on
maintenance for healthy seniors and encourage them to be active. People are
living longer than ever and can live long, healthy lives and stay physically
fit. Be the motivator and inspiration. Encourage them to take a walk after
dinner or enroll them in your local YMCA. They often have classes geared
towards seniors and they can make friends while they’re working out.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE LOVE
Everyone
desires to age gracefully and independently. Today’s seniors have many resources
that allow them the freedom to live healthy, happy and independent lives while
giving their caregivers peace of mind.
I hope you
found the information in this article useful. Until the next time….
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and my brother, Alan, who heads up Tub King, will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.
Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. His companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800)843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.
