Elderly home care options

Elderly home care options.

Are you beginning to become concerned about your ageing parent/s ability to be able to cope with daily living at home independently?

A LIVE IN CARER IS IN OUR OPINION THE BEST SOLUTION READ ON AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF.
There are a few options open to you, let's take a look.

1) Employ a person to drop in each day to check they are safe and well. This often includes helping them get up, dressed, helping them to the loo etc. Then perhaps making some breakfast. These visits can be at various times during the day/evening depending on the level of assistance needed. These visits are valuable but only take care of mum and or dad whilst the carer is in attendance. They provide a degree of company, help and support but still leaves them alone and vulnerable when the carer leaves.

2) Take on the role yourself. Very noble, and indeed nobody would look after them as well as a sibling. But there are very few people who can just drop everything and move in with their ageing parents. 

3) Consider placing them in a care/nursing home. Personally unless they are totally incapable and have serious cognitive issues, such as dementia, Parkinson's or both, this option is not one that anyone should pursue without careful consideration. The decision isn't really reversible and they are condemned to a regimented existence. Stripped of their home, losing their precious pets, cat, dog etc. All they bring with them a small suitcase with a few photos and they will sit for hours on end with nobody to interact with them. Usually this precipitates a sharp deterioration in their physical and mental well being, and the fact is the only way they will ever leave the care home is when they eventually pass away, the Pope once described being commited to care a  home is as a form of hidden euthenasia! 

4) A live in carer. The almost ideal solution. The answer here is right under our very noses! 

Why? Answers: 

4A)   Round the clock company. An issue often overlooked. Many of our mums and dads can be very lonely, often going days on end without seeing a soul. You may not be aware of this situation as usually they are too proud to talk about it, and don't want to make more demands on your time. But imagine not having anyone to talk to day in, day out! 

4B) Prevention of falls. This one is the BIGGY! Most people who eventually finish up in care homes, is usually as a result of a fall/s when previously they were quite fit. That first fall often results in broken limbs, and in the case of a hip often seriously impairs mobilty permanently. In the case of this authors father the first fall =4 broken ribs, minor heart attack, and  a severe head wound. He was severely limited after that and sustained further falls, more heart attacks, eventually he passed away just before he was about to be admitted to a care home. All of this happened within the space of 9 months. Prior to that we were often together in a local park eating ice cream, or he would enjoy watching a game of bowls. The only way to effectively avoid these deadly falls is a live in "minder" in attendance.

4C) Security. How often do we hear of criminals preying on the eldery and tricking their way into their home. How often do we hear of cookers left on, back doors left open at night.

4D) Mobility. A Live in carer restores the mobility and freedom hitherto lost. A live in carer often doubles as a chauffeur to enable an elderly person to enjoy the freedom to get out and about again as and when they please.  This ability to go out in an promptu manner  to visit the supermarket and chose what they want themselves,  or a visit friends, social clubs, local park,  or even a trip to the seaside. All of this done in tandem with a younger person who keeps an eye of them and make sure no harm come to them.

Conclusion a live in carer ticks all the boxes, not only for the service user/s but anxious siblings and friends.  It also provides relief for a spouse caring for their partner....often  very tough call!

Created by www.teamhomehelp.co.uk www.teamhomehelp.co.uk