Many families decide to take care of elderly family members in their home instead of taking them to a nursing home. However, healthcare executive, Favish Pewzner points out that this type of care involves series of changes both in the house as well as in the habits and customs of life in general.
Below, you can read 10 basic tips from Faivish Pewzner to help you with the task of caring for an elderly person in your home.
• 1- Integrate the elderly: strengthen family ties and friendship between all members of your family and the elderly. Try to participate in different activities in clubs and integration centers.
• 2- Help him to be physically independent: make sure that the place where he moves inside your home is clear of obstacles and well lit to avoid falls and accidents. Repair broken furniture and use non-slip mats.
• 3- Take care of your personal hygiene: it stimulates you to perform your daily cleaning and takes care of your skin with moisturizers and sunscreen in case of exposure to the sun.
• 4- Help him to have a restful sleep: the elderly sleep a few hours and their awakenings can be sudden. Before going to sleep, check that the light in the room is slight.
• 5- Rigorously control your oral health: in case you use dental prostheses, Pewzner suggests brushing it after each meal and let it sit in cold water overnight. If you still have your own teeth, take care that you gently brush your teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste.
• 6- Help him to comply with what is indicated by the doctor: to do this, you must make a detailed report with all the treatment you should follow. Keep track of medications with each dose and schedule, and avoid self-medication.
• 7- See a doctor immediately if you notice a depressed and depressed mood.
• 8- Help him with incontinence by reminding him to go to the bathroom, and condition it for best use with rails for support.
• 9-Have a healthy diet: it is preferable that the elderly consume light and low salt foods. Supply boiled or grilled food.
• 10- Join him and listen to him, give him your contention and, above all, be patient.