People usually get more sensitive as they age, that’s the main reason why elderly people become more sensitive and childlike and are in utter need of home health care to combat illnesses and conditions. Home health care has become an essential part of giving elderly people quality life, their independence while staying in their comfort zone and retaining their self-respect.
Most individuals don’t feel great about residential homes, and there are a number of reasons for that. Some people just don’t get comfortable when there are a lot of people around, no matter the attention they get or the care they get from the caretakers, it’s just they want to live alone. Home caretaking is the best solution for such people, and their recovery process is great once you stay in their comfort zone.
There are no hard and fast rules, and you won’t any book on the hone health care tips, as they vary from person to person, yet there are some generalized ways of keeping them happy, dignified, and independent. Here are some of the tips for home health care workers, or people who are taking care of their elderly at home;
Don’t Rush
Don’t rush things when you are on your home health care visits. When you will rush things the other person might think that they are a burden on you, and you are just passing the time. Don’t make them realize that they are a burden or their condition might get worse. Especially the older people don’t like it when you make them feel they are a burden, so avoid rushing and try to give at least an hour to them. Keep things easy and calm.
Older people have slowed responses because of their age as well as any medical condition they might have at the moment. Your rushing of things might make them panic or take things to a nervous level. Make the environment as comfortable, and soothing as possible.
Small Treats Work
Don’t hesitate in giving small surprises on random occasions. Elderly people are like children, they don’t care how small the surprise or treat is, they just get immensely happy by your small gesture as well.
Bring them something that they like. If you don’t know things of their liking; make your communication better and ask them for their favorite treats, they would love to share their childhood favorite treats with you, and cherish them with you.
Prepare small surprises for them. Take them for a walk on a Saturday morning like they used to do in their adulthood, or celebrate their birthdays. These tiny treats might work as tiny stimuli to the brain, and who knows what positive responses the brain might generate in reaction to these small happy moments.
Specialist Equipment
You might need some specialist equipment like cushions, hoists, etc. So, make sure to keep them with you whenever you are paying a visit to elderly people. It would be great if you have some knowledge of the equipment that you are using, not only will it ensure safety, but you will feel confident to use the equipment if you know the proper handling especially when you are using the hoists.
You might need the specialist equipment with the elderly people, and if they sense that you don’t know how to use the equipment, they would never feel safe and trusted again. Tell them about your training experiences to build a sense of trust and security.
Find Mutual Interests
Get to know more about your patients by asking about their hobbies and interests. It not only builds a sense of security but also builds trust between you and your patients. Elderly conditions like dementia are difficult to treat, but not when you get your elderly patients to dive back into their memories and find their hobbies and interests.
And once you talk about these mutual interests, they will definitely build a greater sense of the situation and would come out from the depths of their dementia. By doing things of their interest you will not only stimulate their brain, but they will get immensely happy by sharing their interests and hobbies with you.
These hobbies will take them to their childhood or their happy years when they were independent. This stimulus to the brain can prove to be very therapeutic and activating, as it might stimulate the brain to show better responses.
Avoid Constant Microwaveable Meals
Good food is important to keep you happy and healthy. We cannot think of eating the same food again and again, so how do we expect our patients to do the same. This is a call for all the health care workers, and people who are taking care of any elderly at home, to avoid microwaveable food and bring diversity to the meals.
The food should not only be tasty but it should be a balanced diet that fulfils all the nutritional needs of the person you are taking care of. The elderly bodies need more nutrition to maintain their health, so make sure to go for tasty yet healthy options for them so that they get all the required nutrition from the food, and the meal tastes great as well.
Simple things are more cherishable. Bring your patients to the kitchen and have them sit with you, while you cook them their favorite meal. There is a great probability that they will take part with you, and maybe this could bring back their memories from their childhood or adulthood.
But make sure to make the area safe first. Remove all harmful objects from the vicinity. And make them stay away from the stove if their condition does not allow it. More importantly, if their state is not stable, don’t bring them to the cooking area in the first place, just cook their meal and bring it to them to enjoy it with them.
Nature is a big relaxation Therapy
Nature is the biggest relaxation therapy, and we humans are blessed to avail of this therapy for free. Plants are not only a source of refreshment, but they are also quite soothing as well. The peace and calm that the plants provide us are enough to get rid of anxieties, depression and stress.
The energy that plants resonate with is so relaxing and soothing that one forgets all the worries, and feels fresh and delighted. Spend time with your elderly patients by taking them to the gardens, and if they want to do some gardening with them as well. Gardening is the most relaxing activity so far, watching young plants grow, watering them and taking care of them happens to be the relaxation that we need in our lives.
Over to You!
You can have a great impact on someone’s life through your gestures and care towards them. Taking care of the elderly at home or at health care residencies is the most empathic work that one can do. The elder generation needs us, we have to take care of them and meet up their needs.
Make sure that you spend quality time with them. Be the one to bring self-satisfaction into their life, and make sure that they live a quality life. If you don’t know where to start you can use the health care tips mentioned above to get a head start. You’ve got this!