As your loved one gets older, they may need more help than you can provide. If your loved one is getting older, and you worry about their well-being, keep reading three common needs for seniors.
1. Personal Care
When you're young, you may take the ease of personal care for granted. However, aging joints, dementia, limited mobility, and low vision can make it hard for your loved one to care for themselves. They may need help with cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing, brushing teeth, applying lotion, and using the bathroom.
And one aspect of personal care that is often overlooked is being able to get around. In order for your loved one to care for themselves, they need to be able to visit the doctor, go grocery shopping, and pick up their prescriptions. However, many seniors may no longer be allowed to or feel comfortable driving, and public transportation can be overwhelming, especially if your loved one suffers from cognitive decline.
Depending on their needs and limitations, you may be able to help your loved one with tasks like buying groceries and cleaning their home. However, a professional may be a better choice for your mental health and the relationship between you and your loved one. Some seniors may simply need someone to visit during the day to help with a few chores, but others may need 24-hour care.
2. Physical Therapy
Many seniors struggle with limited mobility and reduced flexibility, which minimizes their ability to walk or participate in activities they used to enjoy. Not only can limited mobility cause pain but it can also cause depression, especially if your loved one used to be active.
For this reason, many seniors benefit from regular physical therapy as a good exercise program. Physical therapy may help them overcome a condition, such as forward neck position, or it may simply be a way to keep muscles strong.
While there are many forms of physical therapy, some of the best for seniors include:
- Geriatric physical therapy, which helps restore and promote mobility, and it is often used for conditions like osteoarthritis or joint replacement.
- Orthopedic physical therapy, which may be recommended after an orthopedic surgery.
- Cardiopulmonary physical therapy, which focuses on strengthening breathing for patients with conditions like COPD.
- Neurological physical therapy, which is about how the brain and body work together. It is common for seniors with neurological conditions like Alzheimer's' disease, ALS, and Parkinson's Disease. It may also be recommended if your loved one has suffered a brain injury.
3. Companionship
Some seniors do well on their own because they are capable of tasks like cooking, cleaning, and dressing. However, limited mobility and health issues aren't the only concern for seniors. Seniors notoriously struggle with loneliness and isolation. They may have lost most or all of their friends and family or their family may be too far away to visit often.
Regardless of the reason, isolation can lead to severe mood problems like depression, which is particularly dangerous for seniors. Even in young people, depression can wreak havoc on physical health, and since seniors are more likely to have underlying health issues, they may be more prone to depression-related health problems.
Luckily, you don't have to hire a nurse or caregiver to help with companionship. Many agencies offer adult sitters who provide companionship to your loved one. Keep in mind that they cannot provide hands-on personal care for your loved one.
As your loved one gets older, they may need more help, but that doesn't mean you have to send them to a nursing facility. Many companies provide nurses, caregivers, and sitters for in-home care. Whether your loved one needs companionship or full-time care, help available. If you would like to learn more,
contact us at Redi-Nurse today.
