It can be difficult to accept that your relatives are getting to an age where they may not always be able to take care of themselves. You may feel uneasy and stressed about their safety and well-being. This is especially true if they are ill.
But there are ways you can make sure your elderly relatives are well taken care of. In this post, we will provide tips on how you can ease your stress by taking steps to ensure the safety of your senior relatives.
Background Checks on Caregivers
Do you have senior family members who are disabled or need daily medication? If you can’t look after them yourself, you will most likely need a caregiver. The duty of a caregiver is to:
- Ensure your elderly loved ones attend medical appointments
- Take care of their transportation needs
- Help with housekeeping
- Assist with toilet breaks
- Make sure they eat regular meals
- Assist them with medication and dosages
- Ensure proper safety in the home
But hiring a caregiver means you have to let a stranger into your elderly relative’s home. Even though caregivers are trained, you’ll want to make sure they can be trusted. You can do background checks on anyone who comes into contact with your senior loved ones through Truthfinder.
Through a background checker, you can ensure you’re hiring a reliable and trustworthy caregiver to look after your family member.
Take Care of Home Safety Basics
As people reach their 70s or 80s, they start to become frail. A simple trip or a fall can be fatal to an elderly living alone. To put your mind at ease, ensure you take care of your loved one’s home safety basics.
Start by installing fall detectors in the home so that your senior relative can get immediate assistance in the event of an accident. Install panic buttons around the house in case of a break-in.
Furthermore, you’ll want to ensure pathways, passages, and stairs are well-lit and clear of objects that could trip your senior relative. Remove all rugs around the house, especially if your elderly family member uses a walker.
Lastly, cover sharp corners on counters or tables with rubber caps. Install banisters and railings by staircases and place rubber flooring in bathrooms and showers.
Go With Them for Regular Checkups
Some seniors need assistance with transportation because they are unable to drive or take public transport. Accompany your elderly relative whenever they need to go for a checkup at the doctor. You can then ensure they arrive at their appointment safely.
Additionally, going with your senior family member to the doctor provides them with moral support. You’ll also get first-hand information on their current health status and the type of medication and dosages they need to take.
Phone Them Often to Ensure They’re OK
Your elderly relatives are always a phone call away. So if you’re feeling stressed about their well-being, you can always call to see how they’re doing. Find out what they might need and how you can assist them in making their lives easier.
You can also teach your senior relatives how to use facetime on their phones. When you see your loved one through a video chat, it will give you peace of mind because you’ll know that they’re OK.
Spend More Time with Elderly Relatives
Since your elderly relatives are growing older with each passing year, you may have limited time to spend with them. Seniors also tend to feel lonesome at times which can increase their anxiety, stress, and depression.
To put your mind at ease and to make your elderly family members feel supported and loved, you should spend more time with them. You can:
- Host family lunches or dinners
- Invite them to go on holiday with you
- Take them out for a cup of coffee
- Check up on them after work
- Invite them to all special occasions such as birthdays or Christmases
Spending more time with your elderly family members allows you to keep an eye on them. You can also give your loved ones the emotional support they need through their journey.
Ensure Communication is Easily Accessible
There will be times when your senior family members will want to contact you either to invite you over or if they need help. Ensure they can contact you easily by making any means of communication accessible.
Provide them with a cell phone and add your number on speed dial. Make sure the cellphone is easy to use. You can also install a house telephone for your relative and place it somewhere that’s easy to get to.
Lastly, provide your relative with wearable medical alert devices in case of an emergency or accident. When your family member presses the button, you’ll immediately be alerted.
Final Thoughts
Some seniors don’t like to be fussed over. So the best way to ensure your elderly relatives are well taken care of is by spending time with them. You can also ask them what they need and how you can assist them. Or use the tips in this article to guide you.