Many elderly people wish to live out their golden years in the comfort of their own home. It is also vital for them to have optimal independence to remain active at home to maintain good emotional, physical, and social health.
Throughout this article, we will cover the basics of connecting the elderly with homebound care to empower and enrich their lives.
Independence Through Safety & Preparedness
When considering the care of an aging loved one, the most important thing is their safety. They must be able to appropriately deal with the situation in the case of an emergency, whether through easy access to calling for help or a way of alerting emergency services if they were to fall.
Hiring a caregiver
If you are the family of a homebound older person, or an older person who needs help with some day-to-day tasks, hiring a caregiver may be essential in providing them with home health care. A caregiver gives your aging loved one their independence but ensures they remain well cared for and safe, too.
The first thing to consider is the level of care they require. Make notes of their likes, dislikes, their individual needs, and any conditions they may have. All of this will influence the kind of caregiver your homebound loved one requires.
Next, decide if you will find your caregiver at an agency or on a registry. There are benefits and downsides to both, so ultimately it comes down to what is best for you and your elderly family member. CareLink’s caregivers are personal care attendants who offer unskilled care, helping with day-to-day activities like personal grooming, light housekeeping, meal prep, and more.
Finally, you and your loved one must decide on a caregiver. Here it is best to be honest with any caregivers you interview. With such an important role, it is essential they understand the challenges they will face and all special requirements they must deal with. It is also important that the caregiver you select is one whom your homebound elderly likes. This is essential since they will be spending so much time together.
Medical alert systems
New assisted living technology is available for those aging in place. Modern medical alert systems can provide the elderly with life-saving care at the push of a button. Options such as medical alert bracelets and smart watches provide a stylish non-intrusive alternative.
When a fall is recorded, the devices send out messages and a GPS location to preprogrammed emergency numbers. There are many kinds of medical alert and monitoring systems that alternative care for homebound older people. CareLink can connect you with providers if you are trying to find one for an older loved one.
Automated medicine dispensers
Taking the right medicine and the right amount of it can prove a difficult task for elderly experiencing vision loss and memory loss. With modern technology, you can purchase automatic, preprogrammed medicine dispensers to provide the right medicine in the right dosage at the right time. It provides true peace of mind and avoids overdose or forgetting to take medicine altogether.
Social interaction
Technology can provide homebound older people with many ways to remain independent in their own home. However, that only solves part of the problem. True home health care for the elderly requires consistent social interaction and a connection to the outside world.
Ensure older people aging-in-place have a chance to interact socially, whether through regular visits from family, friends visiting, or through their caregiver. It is incredibly important that the aging community has a chance to interact with others. As they lead an inactive lifestyle, they risk developing emotional or mental issues the more detached from society they become.
Studies show short regular visits are more beneficial than infrequent long visits. Invite them to join you on outdoor outings or trips to the grocery store. If they are capable of traveling, the chance to breathe fresh air and interact with society on another level can be very powerful.
Social media and cell phones
Social media and cell phones offer immediate contact with anyone regardless of their location. A cell phone or tablet device can provide homebound elderly with a connection to the outside world as well as an additional level of security.
It also helps alert caregivers or emergency services in real-timereal time. Not only this, but the connectivity of social media and cell phones give stay-at-home elderly aging in place the ability to have regular social interactions.
For more information
CareLink is a not-for-profit organization providing resources to older people and their families throughout central Arkansas. Our mission is to connect older people and their families with the resources necessary to meet both the opportunities and challenges of aging.
Contact us today at (501) 372-5300 for more information.
