Looking After Your Elderly Loved Ones

When the people you love start getting older, there are many problems that may arise. Apart from giving them emotional support, they may also need physical support and practical support. This comes in the form of ensuring they have a suitable place to live, looking out for their emotional well being and checking to make sure that they aren't doing any activities, which could cause them physical harm.

Understand their point of view

 

It's very important to understand the situation from their individual point of view, particularly if your loved one has mental or physical issues due to old age. With problems such as dementia, they might not understand why they need to stop doing certain things or start certain treatments. It also becomes very difficult to explain this to somebody who is forgetful or struggles to comprehend the situation. The secret is to remain patient and caring, and don't be alarmed if very close family members with dementia are wary of you or stop trusting you. Those with physical health problems may be hesitant to stop doing certain activities, particularly if they were sporty and active previously.

 

Make sure they are comfortable

 

In many cases, elderly relatives are put into care homes or retirement homes. While this can sometimes be the best option, it is certainly not the only option. Depending on how close you are to your family member, you might decide that it's best if they come and stay with you, either temporarily or permanently. You can also look at retirement homes for sale, since many older people have a property already that they could sell in order to buy a more suitable place of residence. Always make sure you talk things through with your loved one rather than making the decisions for them. Even if they are not fully capable of making their own decisions, you should still involve them to help them feel like they are still independent and in control.

 

Give them your time

 

One of the most important things you can do for your elderly loved ones is give them your time, love and attention. Few people, especially when they reach retirement age, want material things more than they want to spend time with the people who matter to them. Offer to take them out for a meal or to watch a show, and if they are in good health, plan a holiday or trip together with a few members of the family. Even if you just spend an hour each week visiting them and having a chat over a cup of coffee, this means more than many people realise.

 

If you are not very close to your relative, spend time getting to know them a little better. Ask them what they did or enjoyed when they were younger, and if they are in good physical health, you could join them on an activity that they used to enjoy, such as walking or swimming. Games like Chess are good for older people, and Sudoku and crosswords can kill time while also training the brain. Looking at old photographs or listening to music can make elderly people feel very nostalgic, and will also give you the opportunity to find out more about them.

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