You might have heard about elderly self-care, which is slowly and steadily becoming popular now. You might be wondering about it. Well, basically it is a few strategies and idea which encourage elderly people to take care of themselves, and to be proactive about their own health. Those who follow this idea use self-care as an alternative to nursing homes and professional care facilities that generally take care of elderly people’s needs.
The self-care movement is increasing becoming important because the world over, the medical industry tends to treat patients as customers. Of course all of us, not just the elderly people have a right to be happy and healthy, but sometimes, the medical system does not allow that.
It’s not always necessary to be so cynical about it all. Of course self-care has many practical benefits. For instance, the elderly individuals stay calm and sharp for longer periods of time, and they also get to feel like they are control their lives. Plus, the burden on family members is considerably eased.
How can you encourage self-care for an elderly relative?
1. Be open – Sometimes, people are not patient enough to bring out health issues into the open with elderly relatives, this may be because they want to shield them from the ugly truth, or maybe they think they won’t understand. But this should not be done. Trust us, the elderly people feel more secure if they understand their own conditions and symptoms – and they need to be told about the treatment options available.
2. Don’t think that just because a person is old – he is incapable. Give him a chance to take care of himself. Sometimes when we see our grandmothers or grandfather struggling with something, we automatically lend a hand. But it’s a better idea to ask first, just in case they want to do the thing independently.
3. Don’t rush – be patient and give the relative time to do the task on his own. He should be able to take as much time as possible. If you look like you’re impatient, he might be flustered.
4. Make use of enhancements and equipment – Use step ramps, bathroom railings, and shower seats – these are just a few examples of the many household improvements you can install to make self-care easier and more practical for them.
5. Talk to the care-giving staff – If your relative lives in an old-age home, or gets regular medical care, tell the people that you are attempting to encourage self-care. Surely they will want to do everything for your relative since they’re being paid for it, but they will be supportive and understanding if you talk to them.
6. Address those areas that are problems – If your relative is uncomfortable with cooking or some other task, get to the bottom of it. You need to figure out where the difficulty lies, and then make changes accordingly.
7. Be proactive – Of course it is very important for you and the rest of your family to take a strong involvement in your elderly relative’s self-care. Make sure the lines of communication are open, and make sure your relative is getting proper care, medicine, and nutrition – if all these things are taken care of, then things will surely work out great.
The self-care movement is increasing becoming important because the world over, the medical industry tends to treat patients as customers. Of course all of us, not just the elderly people have a right to be happy and healthy, but sometimes, the medical system does not allow that.
It’s not always necessary to be so cynical about it all. Of course self-care has many practical benefits. For instance, the elderly individuals stay calm and sharp for longer periods of time, and they also get to feel like they are control their lives. Plus, the burden on family members is considerably eased.
How can you encourage self-care for an elderly relative?
1. Be open – Sometimes, people are not patient enough to bring out health issues into the open with elderly relatives, this may be because they want to shield them from the ugly truth, or maybe they think they won’t understand. But this should not be done. Trust us, the elderly people feel more secure if they understand their own conditions and symptoms – and they need to be told about the treatment options available.
2. Don’t think that just because a person is old – he is incapable. Give him a chance to take care of himself. Sometimes when we see our grandmothers or grandfather struggling with something, we automatically lend a hand. But it’s a better idea to ask first, just in case they want to do the thing independently.
3. Don’t rush – be patient and give the relative time to do the task on his own. He should be able to take as much time as possible. If you look like you’re impatient, he might be flustered.
4. Make use of enhancements and equipment – Use step ramps, bathroom railings, and shower seats – these are just a few examples of the many household improvements you can install to make self-care easier and more practical for them.
5. Talk to the care-giving staff – If your relative lives in an old-age home, or gets regular medical care, tell the people that you are attempting to encourage self-care. Surely they will want to do everything for your relative since they’re being paid for it, but they will be supportive and understanding if you talk to them.
6. Address those areas that are problems – If your relative is uncomfortable with cooking or some other task, get to the bottom of it. You need to figure out where the difficulty lies, and then make changes accordingly.
7. Be proactive – Of course it is very important for you and the rest of your family to take a strong involvement in your elderly relative’s self-care. Make sure the lines of communication are open, and make sure your relative is getting proper care, medicine, and nutrition – if all these things are taken care of, then things will surely work out great.
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