Support for the elderly: tips for family and friends

Support for the elderly: tips for family and friends

I. Understanding the needs of an elderly person

Support for an elderly person begins with a deep understanding of his individual needs, which often become more complicated with age. These needs can be conditionally divided into several categories: physical, emotional, cognitive, social and financial. Ignoring any of these categories can lead to a decrease in the quality of life of an elderly person and an increase in the load on his loved ones.

A. Physical needs:

Physical health plays a key role in the general well -being of an elderly person. With age, chronic diseases often occur, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and dementia, which require constant attention and care.

1. Medical care:

   • Regular examinations: It is important to ensure regular visits to the doctor for preventive examinations and monitoring of chronic diseases. Take advantage of an elderly person to an appointment, if he needs it, and help write down questions and answers. Feel free to communicate with a doctor to receive additional information and recommendations.
   • Medication: Follow the proper medication. Use organizers for tablets, set reminders and check the shelf life of drugs. Regularly review the list of drugs with a doctor to avoid undesirable interactions. Discuss with the doctor any side effects that an elderly person can experience.
   • Physiotherapy and rehab: After injuries or operations, physiotherapy can significantly improve the mobility and functionality of an elderly person. Provide access to the physiotherapist and help perform exercises at home.
   • Help in movement: If an elderly person experiences difficulties in moving, consider the possibility of using auxiliary tools, such as a cane, walkers or a wheelchair. Provide the safe environment of the house by removing carpets, wires and other obstacles that can lead to falls. Set the handrails in the bathroom and toilet.
   • Nutrition: Proper nutrition is crucial for maintaining the health of an elderly person. With age, appetite and ability to absorb nutrients may decrease. Offer a variety of nutrient dishes rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. Make sure an elderly person consumes enough liquid. If there are problems with chewing or swallowing, consider the possibility of cooking soft food or mashed potatoes. Consult a nutritionist to develop an individual food plan.
   • Hygiene: With age, it can become difficult to maintain personal hygiene. Offer help in taking a shower, brushing your teeth and dressing. Make sure the bathroom is safe and equipped with handrails and a non -slip rug.
   • Vision and hearing: Spend the vision and ears of an elderly person regularly. Poor vision and hearing can significantly affect the quality of life and increase the risk of falls and isolation. Provide access to an ophthalmologist and an audiologist, and help use glasses and hearing aids.

2. Safety at home:

   • Remove the dangers of falling: Remove carpets, wires and other obstacles that can lead to falls. Set the handrails in the bathroom and toilet. Provide good lighting in all rooms.
   • Install smoke and carbon monoxide sensors: Regularly check the performance of the sensors.
   • Check the heating and cooling system: Make sure that the system works properly and maintains a comfortable temperature in the house.
   • Install an emergency call system: An emergency call system can help an elderly person cause help in case of falling or other emergency.

B. Emotional needs:

The emotional well -being of an elderly person is as important as physical health. With age, people often face the loss of loved ones, their health, social insulation and financial difficulties, which can lead to depression, anxiety and loneliness.

1. The fight against loneliness and isolation:

   • Regular visits: Regularly visit an elderly person, even if you have little time. Just sit nearby, talk or watch a movie can significantly improve his mood.
   • Encourage social activity: Encourage participation in social events, such as interest clubs, support groups and religious services. Help find suitable events and accompany an elderly person, if he needs it.
   • Use technologies: Teach an elderly person to use technologies such as video calls, social networks and email to stay in touch with family and friends.
   • Volunteering: Volunteer activity can give an elderly person a sense of goal and significance, as well as the opportunity to communicate with other people.
   • Pets: Pets can be excellent companions and help fight loneliness.

2. Support for emotional health:

   • Listen carefully: Just listen to an elderly person without interrupting and not condemning. Let him express his feelings and fears.
   • Show sympathy: Show that you understand his feelings and experiences.
   • Be patient: With age, people can become more irritable and forgetful. Be patient and understanding.
   • Offer assistance in solving problems: Offer help in solving the problems that an elderly person faces, but do not make a decision for him.
   • Seek professional help: If an elderly person experiences depression, anxiety or other emotional problems, seek professional help to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

C. Cognitive needs:

Cognitive functions, such as memory, attention and thinking, can decrease with age. It is important to maintain the cognitive functions of an elderly person so that he can remain independent and active.

1. Stimulation of mental activity:

   • Reading: Reading books, newspapers and magazines helps maintain mental activity and expand the horizons.
   • Games: Games, such as chess, checkers, sodoku and crosswords, stimulate thinking and improve memory.
   • Studies: Studying a new language, mastering a new skill or attending lectures can help maintain cognitive functions.
   • Communication: Communication with other people, participation in discussions and the exchange of ideas stimulate thinking and improve memory.
   • Music: Listening to music, playing a musical instrument or visiting concerts can improve mood and cognitive functions.

2. Dementation Management:

   • Early diagnosis: It is important to diagnose dementia in time in order to start treatment and care planning.
   • Creating a safe environment: Create a safe and familiar at home to reduce the risk of disorientation and falls.
   • Maintaining the daily routine: Support the regular daily routine to help an elderly person feel safe and control the situation.
   • Using simple instructions: Use simple and clear instructions to avoid confusion.
   • Communication with patience and understanding: Communicate with patience and understanding, remembering that an elderly person with dementia cannot control his behavior.
   • Support for support: Support for support for support groups for families and friends of people with dementia.

D. Social needs:

Social relations are important for maintaining the health and well -being of an elderly person. Social isolation can lead to depression, anxiety and deterioration of cognitive functions.

1. Promotion of social ties:

   • Help maintain relationships with family and friends: Organize meetings with family and friends, help send letters and postcards, and support communication by phone and via the Internet.
   • Encourage participation in social events: Encourage participation in interest clubs, support groups and religious services. Help find suitable events and accompany an elderly person, if he needs it.
   • Volunteering: Volunteer activity can give an elderly person a sense of goal and significance, as well as the opportunity to communicate with other people.
   • Visiting social centers for the elderly: Social centers for the elderly offer a variety of programs and events that can help older people remain active and communicate with other people.

2. The fight against Eijism:

   • Treat the elderly person with respect: Respect the experience and wisdom of an elderly person. Do not treat him down or condescendingly.
   • Do not make assumptions about its abilities: Do not assume that an elderly person cannot do something only because of his age.
   • Fight with stereotypes about aging: Real negative stereotypes about aging.
   • Protect the rights of the elderly: Protect the rights of the elderly and fight discrimination by age.

E. Financial needs:

Financial stability is important to ensure a worthy standard of living of an elderly person. With age, financial difficulties may arise related to retirement, medical expenses and home leaving.

1. Finance management:

   • Help draw up the budget: Help draw up a budget and monitor the expenses.
   • Look for opportunities for saving: Look for opportunities for savings, such as benefits for utilities, medicines and transport.
   • Protect from fraud: Protect an elderly person from fraud and financial abuse.
   • Plan the future: Help plan the future, including home leaving, long -term care and inheritance.
   • Seek financial advice: Apply for a financial advice on a professional to get assistance in financial management and planning the future.

2. Search for financial resources:

   • State programs: Learn about state programs that can provide financial assistance, such as social security, Medicare and Medicaid.
   • Charitable organizations: Learn about charitable organizations that provide financial assistance to older people.
   • Family support: Discuss the possibility of financial support with other family members.

II. Creating a favorable environment

The creation of a favorable environment for an elderly person includes not only physical security and comfort, but also emotional support, respect and the ability to remain active and involved in life.

A. House:

1. Safety ensuring: As described earlier, it is necessary to eliminate the dangers of the fall, install smoke and carbon monoxide sensors, check the heating and cooling system, and install an emergency call system.
2. Creating a comfortable atmosphere: Provide a comfortable temperature, good lighting and a quiet environment. Let the elderly man decorate the house with your personal things and create a cozy atmosphere.
3. Ensuring accessibility: If an elderly person has difficulties with movement, adapt the house to facilitate his movement. Install ramps, handrails and elevators, if necessary.
4. Organization Spaces: Organize the space so that an elderly person can easily find the necessary things and perform everyday tasks.
5. Maintaining cleanliness and order: Maintain cleanliness and order in the house to reduce the risk of infections and allergies.

B. Community:

1. Search for available transport: Provide access to transport so that an elderly person can visit doctors, shops, social events and other important places.
2. Search for social centers for the elderly: Social centers for the elderly offer a variety of programs and events that can help older people remain active and communicate with other people.
3. Encouraging participation in public events: Encourage participation in public events, such as festivals, concerts and sports competitions.
4. Finding opportunities for volunteering: Volunteer activity can give an elderly person a sense of goal and significance, as well as the opportunity to communicate with other people.
5. Creating a supporting network: Create a supporting network from a family, friends, neighbors and professionals who can help an elderly remain active and independent.

III. Tips for communicating with an elderly person

Effective communication is the key to maintaining a healthy relationship with an elderly and providing the necessary support.

A. Active hearing:

1. Pay attention to verbal and non -verbal signals: Pay attention to the tone of the voice, facial expression and the language of the body of an elderly person.
2. Ask open questions: Ask open questions that allow an elderly person to freely express his thoughts and feelings.
3. To paraphrase what an elderly person says: Poprase what an elderly person says to make sure that you understand him correctly.
4. Do not interrupt: Do not interrupt an elderly person, even if you do not agree with him.
5. Show empathy: Show that you understand the feelings and experiences of an elderly person.

B. Clear and simple communication:

1. Speak clearly and slowly: Speak clearly and slowly so that an elderly person can easily understand you.
2. Use simple words and sentences: Avoid the use of complex words and sentences.
3. Avoid slang and jargon: Avoid the use of slang and jargon.
4. Repeat the information if necessary: Repeat the information, if necessary, to make sure that the elderly person understood it.
5. Use visual means: Use visual means, such as pictures and gestures, to help an elderly person understand the information.

C. respectful communication:

1. Contact an elderly person by name: Contact an elderly person by name to show that you respect him.
2. Do not belong to an elderly person on or condescendingly: Do not belong to an elderly person on or condescendingly, even if he has cognitive problems.
3. Respect his experience and wisdom: Respect the experience and wisdom of an elderly person.
4. Do not make assumptions about its abilities: Do not assume that an elderly person cannot do something only because of his age.
5. Let him make decisions: Give an elderly person the opportunity to make decisions about his life.

D. Communication with an elderly person with dementia:

1. Create a calm and safe environment: Create a calm and safe atmosphere to reduce the risk of disorientation and anxiety.
2. Come to the elderly person in front: Go to the elderly person in front so as not to scare him.
3. Establish eye contact: Establish eye contact to show that you are attentive.
4. Use simple words and sentences: Use simple words and sentences to avoid confusion.
5. Speak slowly and clearly: Speak slowly and clearly so that an elderly person can easily understand you.
6. Use non -verbal communication: Use non -verbal communication, such as a smile and touch to calm an elderly person.
7. Be patient: Be patient and understanding, remembering that an elderly person with dementia cannot control his behavior.
8. Repeat the information if necessary: Repeat the information, if necessary, to make sure that the elderly person understood it.
9. Distract an elderly person if he is upset: Distract an elderly person if he is upset, offering him to do something that he likes.
10. Do not argue with an elderly person: Do not argue with an elderly person, even if he says something illogical.

IV. Caring for yourself

Caring for an elderly person can be physically and emotionally exhausting. It is important to take care of yourself in order to avoid burnout and continue to provide high -quality support.

A. Stress management:

1. Regularly engage in physical exercises: Regular physical exercises help reduce stress and improve mood.
2. Get out well: A good dream is important for physical and emotional health.
3. Ask correctly: Proper nutrition helps maintain energy level and reduce stress.
4. Find the time to relax and relax: Find the time to relax and relax, for example, for reading, listening to music or walking in nature.
5. Contact your friends and family for support: Support for your friends and family when you need it.
6. Consider the possibility of visiting the support group: Consider the possibility of visiting a support group for people caring for elderly people.
7. Seek professional help, if necessary: Seek professional help to a psychologist or therapist if you experience severe stress or depression.

B. The establishment of borders:

1. Learn to say no: Learn to say no when you are asked to do something that you cannot or do not want to do.
2. Do not overload yourself: Do not overload yourself with responsibilities for the care of an elderly person.
3. Remember your needs: Remember your needs and devote time to yourself.

C. Search for resources and support:

1. Learn about available resources: Learn about available resources, such as home care services, daytime stay centers for the elderly and support groups.
2. Do not be afraid to ask for help: Do not be afraid to ask for help from a family, friends and professionals.
3. Use home care services: Use home care services to get a break and time for yourself.
4. Think about the possibility of moving an elderly person to a nursing home: If the care of an elderly person becomes too complicated, think about the possibility of moving him to the nursing home.

V. Legal and financial issues

In addition to everyday care, it is important to consider legal and financial issues related to the support of an elderly person.

A. Documents:

1. Will: Make sure that an elderly person has a will that determines how his property will be distributed after his death.
2. Power of attorney: Make sure that an elderly person has a power of attorney that allows you to make decisions for him if he becomes incompetent.
3. Medical power of attorney: Make sure that an elderly person has a medical power of attorney that allows you to make decisions about his medical care if he becomes incompetent.
4. Order in case of death: Make sure that an elderly person has an order in case of death that determines what medical procedures he wants or does not want to receive at the end of his life.

B. Financial planning:

1. Pension: Make sure that an elderly person receives all the pension payments assigned to him.
2. Social Security: Make sure that an elderly person receives all the payments assigned to him on social security.
3. Insurance: Make sure that an elderly person has sufficient medical insurance and long -term insurance.
4. Investment: Make sure that investments of an elderly person are controlled correctly and in accordance with his needs.
5. Taxes: Make sure an elderly person pays taxes on time.

C. Legal consultation:

1. Apply for a legal advice to a lawyer: Apply for a legal advice on a lawyer specializing in aging issues to get assistance in drawing up legal documents and planning the future.

VI. Conclusion

Supporting older people is a multifaceted process that requires understanding, patience and devotion. Given the physical, emotional, cognitive, social and financial needs of an elderly person, creating a favorable environment and effectively communicating, family and friends can significantly improve the quality of life of their loved ones in old age. Do not forget about taking care, establishing borders and finding the necessary resources in order to avoid burnout and continue to provide high -quality support. A thorough consideration of legal and financial issues will also help ensure stability and security in the future.