If you’re a family member or an adult child caring for a senior parent, you understand it’s a complex relationship. The roles you traditionally held are reversed. Now that you’re in the position of providing senior care, it’s up to you to explain the doctor’s instructions and make sure your parents are taking their medications. You’re the teacher to the person who once taught you.
The caregiver role can be incredibly stressful but try to remember that while you are thrust into a new role, so are they. To them, it probably feels like only yesterday they could jump into their car to run errands or hop on a flight to explore another country. Now, not only is their world a lot smaller, they may be forced to navigate it with a walker or scooter. But it’s important to remember, they are still the same people inside, even if their mobility and level of independence have changed. Respectful Senior Care Strategies As a quality home care agency, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton understands that family caregivers play an integral role in keeping their loved ones safe and happy at home. We also know that this role comes with a lot of stress. Below, we have put together a list of senior care strategies that can help family caregivers respectfully communicate, engage, and care for their loved ones. Subtly Assist Them Many seniors want to feel as independent as possible. Even though they may need assistance stepping off a curb, they don’t want to feel dependent. Those are the times to subtly assist. You can casually offer help with a comment like, “Wow, this curb looks slippery, let’s hang onto one another!” By inserting yourself into the situation, they won’t feel as needy. Listen to Them The world spins quickly for elderly people, and they may not be current with trending topics. They may instead wish to regale you with tales from their younger years. Let them. You may know the stories by heart, but if sharing them gives your loved one joy, then that’s all that matters. Defer to Them Over a holiday or family dinner, it’s easy for seniors to get lost in the conversations whizzing around them. Take opportunities to ask them what they think or encourage them to share a story about the topics being discussed. Giving them center stage can help to make them still feel connected to the family and the world around them. Gift of Your Time Time is a precious commodity, so give them quality time. You may have spent several hours on a Tuesday going to and from a doctor’s appointment. But, if possible, make a plan to pick up dinner another night that week and bring it over so you can enjoy a movie together. Their days are often full of maintenance-type, medical-driven tasks, so gifting your time to make new memories is priceless. Empathize with Your Senior Picture yourself in 40 years. Would you want to be treated differently just because you’re wearing a sweater or carrying a cane? Try to relate to what this new chapter is like for them. We know you want the best for your loved one, but we also understand that providing elder care is challenging with a busy life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, now is a good time to ask for help. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is here to support you and your family with senior home care services. We can provide care in a way that makes sense for your family and your needs. Our professional in-home caregivers can handle personal care and household tasks, like showering, dressing and preparing meals, so you can focus on spending quality time together and building lasting memories. Together with your family, we will give your loved one all the respect and love they deserve. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency that has been providing quality in-home care for the elderly and people with disabilities for over eighteen years. Countless families have benefited from our respite home care, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, companionship service, live-in and 24-hour senior care, transitional aid, and elder home care services in Norwood, Westwood, Dedham, Needham, Newton, Boston’s (Upper) Back Bay, Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Natick, Roslindale, Stoughton, Watertown, Wellesley, and West Roxbury, and neighboring communities in Massachusetts. The non-medical assistance Visiting Angels Newton/Canton provides can significantly impact your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Call us at (617) 795-2727 to book a free in-home consultation with one of our knowledgeable case managers today!
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If your loved one can no longer manage basic daily tasks, you may worry about their safety and comfort at home. This is especially true if you have reason to believe they cannot move easily, are not eating well, or starting to withdraw from others. Many families turn to assisted living communities, which allow seniors to maintain a level of independence while receiving ongoing support with everyday tasks. Within these communities, your loved one may receive regular meals, participate in communal activities, access laundry and housekeeping services, and receive personal care, including bathing and dressing support. However, as beneficial as these services can be for your loved one, you may still have concerns about their overall quality of life. This is especially true if you, like so many adult children, live in a different city or state from your elderly parents and cannot visit as often as you’d like. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care agency can help. Professional Caregivers Enhance Assisted Living CareAs the demand for quality senior care soars, assisted living facilities are often functioning at capacity, catering to the needs of many residents at once. While your loved one may have access to many amenities, it’s natural to wonder if their needs are fully met. By hiring a one-on-one caregiver from Visiting Angels Newton/Canton who is professionally certified as an HHA or CNA to assist your loved one, you can supplement the care they receive through assisted living, improve their quality of life, and enjoy greater peace of mind yourself. The benefits of hiring an in-home caregiver from a home care agency for your loved one in assisted living include:
A professional caregiver can ensure your loved one has their care professional’s full and undivided attention, with no other distractions or obligations. Your loved ones can have their needs addressed in the moment and on their schedule.
Since your loved one will see the same home care provider during each visit, they’ll have the opportunity to develop a relationship based on trust, respect, and genuine friendship.
In addition to whatever details you receive from your loved one and their community, you’ll have day-by-day insight from their caregiver. This will provide a clearer sense of how they are doing and a greater sense of connection and involvement in their care. How Senior Home Care Can Complement Your Assisted Living ExperienceAt Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, our compassionate care professionals offer personalized home care services for seniors — wherever home may be. Depending on your loved one’s needs and preferences, we can assist with everyday tasks, including:
Through our flexible care plans and schedules, we offer seniors the opportunity to age in place at home or to enjoy a higher quality of life within their assisted living community. We also work closely with families to keep them fully informed and involved in their loved one’s care. If someone you love needs more support to live comfortably and contentedly at home or in assisted living, Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can be there in whatever form they need. If you’re interested in more information about how senior home care services can help your senior loved ones, contact us at 617–795–2727 to schedule a free in-home consultation. About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award-winning home care agency that has been providing high-caliber in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities for over seventeen years. Countless families have benefited from our in-home care, senior companion support, respite care, live-in and 24-hour home care, dementia care, Alzheimer home care, transitional aid, and private duty care services in Natick, Wellesley, Dedham, Needham, Stoughton, Brookline, Canton, Watertown, Jamaica Plain, Newton, Norwood, Roslindale, Upper Back Bay, Westwood, and neighboring communities. The non-medical assistance provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton home care can make a significant impact on your loved one’s happiness and quality of life. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is one of The Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work, one of the 10 Best Places to Work in Massachusetts based on diversity and inclusion, and winner of the Best of Home Care Employer of Choice award from Home Care Pulse. Interested in working for us? Apply to be a caregiver on our website or call 617–795–2727. |
AuthorVisiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning in-home care agency that provides high quality home care to seniors and disabled adults in Greater Boston, MA. Archives
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