Caring for Elderly Family Members: How to Lay Out a Loving Plan

When it comes to caring for our elderly family members, it is vital to layout a loving healthcare plan. The plan should be flexible as needs may change over time. The following four steps can be used to create a unique program designed just for your senior loved one.

Step 1: Note All Daily Activities

As our family members age, their abilities to do regular daily activities may decline. These daily activities include eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, and mobility. Pay close attention to any changes in these activities as well as in your senior family member’s appearance and weight. These can be the first telltale signs of trouble.

Step 2: Identify the Needs Required and Set Goals

When caring for elderly family members, it is imperative to note the exact needs required and set goals to attain along the way. Two main questions need to be addressed.

1.  What is Absent in Your Loved One’s Daily Routine?

Some examples may include:

• Eating enough
• Consuming nutritious food
• Social interaction

2. What is the End Goal That You Want Your Loved One to Attain?

Some examples can include:

• Take in enough calories throughout the day
• Have some form of socialization at least a few times per week
• Each day, include foods that are healthier such as lean meats and vegetables

This health communication plan should include all concerns with the highest priority on top. If you find there are no flaws in the list, you can still include goals for their overall wellbeing. Maybe you want your relative to eat better or have a higher quality of life.

The longer-term objectives should also include the financial aspect. Proactive planning in this area will guarantee your loved one will be able to afford the senior lifestyle they have in mind. Your loved one’s participation in this is also essential. Not only will it minimize their reluctance to receiving care but because they deserve to have a say in how their life will be in the future.

Step 3: Create a Care Team

Caring for elderly family members should not be done alone. Having a care team can supply the added support needed so you do not have to embark on this journey alone. Including other family members, friends, and neighbors who are willing to help and can alleviate additional stressors.

Match the care team member by their strengths and abilities and how best they can be utilized to assist with specific needs. If, for example, one of the goals is for your family member to eat healthier and more frequently, then maybe a relative that lives close by could deliver a pre-made meal.

Step 4: Look Into Senior Resources

Sometimes more assistance is needed when caring for elderly family members, and when this happens, it is vital to find a place that provides services with compassionate professional caregivers.

Each person is different in their needs, so having a health communication plan that includes quality senior home care is essential. At 1Heart Caregiver Services, your loved one can obtain resources that include:

• Home Care Services

• • Companionship and Socialization
    • Having someone to talk to and spend time with can give the social support needed to boost mental health. Uplifting social interactions can help take away feelings of loneliness and isolation.
  • Meal Planning and Preparation
    • Caring for elderly family members by having a caregiver help plan and prepare meals can ease the worry about whether or not they are eating enough nutritious food.
  • Medication Reminders
    • Missing a dose of medication could be critical, and with age, sometimes elders can forget. Having a caregiver will allow for peace of mind in knowing that your loved one is taking their medicine as prescribed.
  • Safety Supervision
    • As people age, they may become frailer, and it can be quite easy to fall and get injured. Having a person on-site to assist with caring for elderly family members can make all the difference in the world.

• In-Home Care

• • Basic Personal Care
    • Dressing
    • Bathing and grooming assistance
    • Medication supervision
    • Running errands and grocery shopping

• 1Heart Round-the-Clock Care

• • Your elder is always guaranteed to be taken care of with our 24-hour round-the-clock care. This service is provided in two shifts of 12 hours each or three periods of 8 hours each.
  • This resource is perfect if your loved one is recovering from an illness or injury.

• 1Heart Care Express

• • This option is a great way to take care of your elderly family members when shorter amounts of time are needed.
  • This service comes in three packages to choose including:
    • The Care Transportation Package – Transportation to doctor appointments, pharmacy drop-off, and pick up as well as taking notes during doctor appointments.
    • The Welcome Home Package – This package allows for a smoother transition after coming home from a surgery or other medical treatment, and includes meal preparation, feeding and picking up prescriptions.
    • The Mealtime Care Package – A great way to care for elderly family members by ensuring they are getting nutritious meals, it also includes meal preparation, feeding, and of course, companionship.

• Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

• • • There is nothing scarier than thinking of our loved one being afraid and not knowing where they are in their own home.
    • Memory loss can disrupt daily lives, and having a trained professional who knows how to handle sensitive situations can bring a sense of peace to the senior loved ones.

• 1Heart Custom Care

• • 1Heart Custom Care allows you to create a unique care plan for the different needs of every senior.
  • You pick the specific set of home care services required and choose the hours that are needed.

At 1Heart Caregiver Services, we strive to provide reliable and compassionate care to all of our clients. Our caregivers are highly trained, bonded, and insured. All of our caregivers must also pass a criminal and background check. To allow for more peace of mind, you interview and make your selection of the caregiver you feel would be the best fit for your loved one.

A health communication plan would not be complete without the gift of home care service. Get peace of mind for your loved one’s health and wellbeing and contact us today, because caring for elderly family members is our top priority.