Trusting someone you love to the care of another person is not easy, particularly for an older member of the family. Whether at home or in a care facility, you’ll have questions you will need answered. As your loved one’s senior care advocate, you will want to be prepared to proactively address any potential issues and to quickly take care of problems that do take place.
For example, review the following typical situations and how to most effectively advocate if they occur with an older adult you love:
- Your loved one has Alzheimer’s. An older adult with dementia might not be able to effectively communicate their wishes and needs. As an example, a new caregiver might not know that Dad wears inserts in his shoes and she may put his shoes on in the morning without them. Dad may not know how to communicate this need or may have forgotten about this need and become uncomfortable that day. Or he may act out because he is experiencing discomfort, which could lead to other issues. As the senior’s voice, be sure to share even the smallest details about the person’s preferences with the care provider.
- You live at a distance. Thanks to technology, it is much easier than ever before to stay close to a long-distance relative and to keep a finger on the pulse of how things are going. Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype with the senior regularly to check in. If a family portal is available for the care provider and family members to share notes and comments, make the most of this communication tool. And if you are unable to visit in person, ask a friend or other family member who lives close by to stop in routinely.
- You are worried about challenging behaviors. In the event the senior is susceptible to wandering, aggression, angry outbursts, hoarding, or any one of a variety of other difficult behaviors, you may feel embarrassed or ashamed. Though you may prefer not to discuss the issue, it’s a good idea to share this openly with the care provider. More likely than not, they have knowledge about successfully working with a wide range of personalities and personal nuances, and will be able to include strategies that will work most effectively with your loved one.
Serenity Home Care partners with families, working together to guarantee the highest quality of care and life for older adults, through personalized services such as:
- Companionship for fun activities and conversations
- Running errands
- Meal planning and preparation
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Personal care for safe baths/showers, getting dressed, etc.
- Transportation and accompaniment
- And much more
Contact us at 250-590-8098 to learn more about our home care and dementia care in Victoria, BC and nearby areas for an older adult you love and to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation. For a full list of all of the communities where we provide care, please visit our Service Area page.