When considering care for your elderly ones, the options may seem endless. You know that your elderly ones require assistance in their day-to-day activities but how much? How often? Where at? With who? Making the best decision for someone you love can seem difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with all the many different options. The following different forms of care are available.

In-Home Care

In home health care can be a great option for those who wish to stay in the comfort of their own home. This method of care can be given by either a medical professional who can develop a care plan and deliver medications or skilled caregiver who can assist with the activities of daily living (i.e. bathing, feeding, dressing). Home care is a sound option for those who require only little assistance or even around the clock medical attention.

Hourly Adult Care/Respite Stay

This form of care can be used during the daytime hours when a family member/caregiver is occupied. A combination of meals, activities, and services may be included depending on the provider.  Hourly care can be given during times of a caregivers work and they are provided with activities, meals, social interaction, and any needed assistance.  

Independent Living

Another form of care that can provide social opportunities for seniors who don’t necessarily require medical attention is independent living. These apartment style homes can be provided with security, amenities, social events and more.

Hospice Care

Hospice is a holistic approach to reaching the highest level of comfort for those who are terminally ill. Hospice care is generally provided by most assisted living homes and other business in elderly care. Hospice focuses on the emotional, physical, mental, and social well-being of a person and their family during what can be a very challenging time. 

Palliative Care

Palliative care is similar to hospice care in its holistic approach. This type of care focuses on easing pain and healing with more natural forms of care. Often palliative care will transit into hospice care.

Assisted Living

Assisted living is a popular choice in elderly care, and not without good reason. If you choose the correct home, your family member/friend can receive more than just medical attention. Assisted living facilities provide a home for your loved one and others, creating a sense of community.  If an assisted living facility is chosen correctly, you can be sure your loved ones are receiving attentive and professional care while also fulfilling their social, mental, and emotional needs.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are private institutions that provide long-term health care and housing, especially for those with serious medical conditions. Nursing homes can provide either private or shared living spaces with around the clock medical care.

Providing Home Care

Assessing their needs. Before you can provide care for an elderly person, you need to figure out what kind of care would benefit them the most. Depending on their overall health and how well they can manage day-to-day tasks, they may need anything from occasional help to constant support. Talk to them, spend time observing them, and work with their healthcare providers to determine their needs. Consider whether your loved one has difficulty managing basic activities, such as feeding themselves, moving around their home, getting dressed, or taking care of their hygiene. If so, they may need home support from you or a professional caregiver.

If they are still able to do most of their basic daily activities without help, you may only need to provide occasional support.

Keep them involved in their care decisions as much as possible. If your loved ones feel that other people are making all their choices for them, they may be more resistant to receiving help. To help them feel more independent and in control of their situation, include them in all conversations and decisions about their care. Communicate openly and honestly with them and ask them for their inputs and opinions about any options you are considering.

Listen actively to anything they have to say about their needs or their feelings about the care options you are considering. If they have any objections, hear them out completely without being dismissive or minimizing their concerns.

Install safety features in the home. Whether your loved one is still living independently, is staying with you, or has live-in support, you can help them by making their home environment safer and more accessible.

Help your loved one stay active. It is recommended that older adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. To help keep your loved ones healthy and happy, encourage them to incorporate manageable levels of physical activity into their daily lives.

Those who are unable to exercise independently can still benefit from being active. Passive Range of Motion (ROM) exercises can help elderly people maintain joint mobility, for example. These exercises involve moving the person’s limbs for them to help limber up their joints.  Look for enjoyable activities that you can do together, like going on nature walks or working in the garden.

Be involved in their medical care.  Most older adults deal with a variety of age-related illnesses and health conditions. To ensure that your loved ones get the best possible care, talk to them and their health care team to familiarize yourself with the specific issues they are dealing with. Familiarize yourself with any medications they take so that you can be aware of possible interactions or side effects. If they have trouble remembering to take their medications, look for ways to help them stay organized, such as using a pill sorter or calling regularly to remind them.

Watch for common warning signs of a possible health problem, such as forgetfulness or confusion, falling or lack of coordination, weight loss or changes in appetite, or changes in mood or behavior.

Emotional problems are also common in older adults. Look out for signs of depression or anxiety, such as irritability, sadness, lack of energy, or loss of interest in things they used to enjoy.

Encourage them to socialize. Older adults who spend time with friends stay physically, emotionally, and mentally healthier than those who don’t. Urge your loved ones to socialize as much as possible, even if it’s just chatting on the phone with a friend.

Many older people benefit from spending time with their grandchildren. If you’re caring for an elderly parent and you have kids, try asking them to babysit or do other fun activities with the children, like playing board games or reading books.

Offer to help with chores and errands. As people age, it can become more difficult for them to manage day-to-day tasks like cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping. Talk to your loved ones about what you can do to help them meet these needs.

For example, you might sit down with them once a week to write up a grocery list, then go to the store and get what they need: Financial difficulties. There are a lot of expenses and financial difficulties associated with aging, from dealing with medical bills to covering the costs of safety upgrades in the home. If your elderly relative is retired, they may need additional financial support to cover their expenses. Talk to them about what financial resources they have (such as pensions or retirement savings) and develop a plan to help them out if necessary.