subject: Handling Problems When Arranging The Care For Elderly Individuals [print this page] Whether an elderly individual stays with you or lives on his/her own, ensuring proper supervision and care is often necessary. This need may become evident after a recent event like a fall or for a progressive illness like Parkinsons. Inability to handle personal tasks, forgetting doctors appointments, incapability to take care of the household and such other are warning signs that may prompt you to arrange home help for elderly individuals.
Even when an elderly member of the family stays with you, providing necessary care may not be possible for the family members. The reason could be anything lack of time, skills or resources. The situation becomes more problematic when the elderly individual stays alone at home. Arranging for adequate care at home may be an option. Otherwise, you may also consider an assisted living or a nursing home for the elderly family member.
Whether you are considering appointing home care or placing the elderly individual at an assisted living or nursing care facility, you may be met with resistance from him/her initially. In such a circumstance, it is necessary to know the right way to handle this. Things would worsen if your approach is not correct. Here are a few simple things to keep in mind when you are trying to handle such a situation.
Talk to the elderly individual. This is the only way to find out the reason behind their resistance. At times, an individual may have problem admitting that they are becoming incapable of taking care of themselves on their own. At others, this incapability may be the result of an illness or injury. Often, the elderly individuals think that denying the problem would make things easier.
Get a professional caregiver to discuss the care options. If you were incapable of convincing the elderly individual, it is better to enlist help from one who knows all about the care services available. They would be able to discuss the services available for home care Dublin and the services available at assisted living and nursing homes. Getting an assessment of care needs may also be necessary, which the care agency may provide.
Involve the elderly individual in the decision making. Unless the individual is mentally incapacitated, make sure you consider his/her opinion when planning the care arrangement. It is a good idea to involve the care recipient in this planning. This ensures that he/she feels at ease with the final decision. Your task is to provide suggestions and ideas regarding the care services and let the elderly individual decide.
Do not accuse. It is necessary to understand that age brings with it different kinds of problems, physical and psychological. Make sure your tone is not of accusation when you are talking to the elderly individual about the necessity for care. Instead, focus on your inability to provide the necessary care and support and what you want to do to find a remedy for the problem.
When arranging for the care of an elderly individual, you need to consider what is best for him/her.
