The most important thing is that all elderly people in all communities are people and that they should be treated as such. All elderly people have the same rights as everyone else.
In elderly care, people must be central
In addition to good health care, the elderly are entitled to the same freedom as everyone else. This is the perspective that should prevail when it comes to caring for the elderly.
Meeting the unique needs of the elderly can be a difficult task for carers, especially since there are always so many other things to do.
But the huge to-do list should not be an obstacle to providing the necessary care to the elderly.
In addition, it should not be forgotten that some elderly people can magnify small mistakes into larger problems. But it’s the little things you do or don’t do that can make the biggest difference.
The caregiver must do his best to provide high-quality care to the elderly in his environment. The care should be focused on the person and not on himself.
Preservation of dignity
Preserving the dignity of the elderly is very important.
Life becomes less fun as people get older. Aging happens to everyone, regardless of social status or economic capacity.
Many elderly people experience sadness, pain, boredom, suffering from illness and loneliness. They can easily lose their dignity to their caregivers, knowing full well that they can’t control anything or anyone.
They find themselves in a situation where they have to listen to and follow orders from someone else, often a stranger, even if that doesn’t feel right.
The inability to prepare meals, take a bath alone, and perform basic activities to which they were accustomed can cause internal conflicts.
Many also lose their mobility. These are all changes in their circumstances that were unthinkable for them in earlier years of their lives.
The role of the caregiver is to help the elderly regain his trust, preserve his dignity and give him as much respect as possible.
While the caregiver takes care of the elderly in their own home, you can help them perform some tasks themselves, you can even sit with them for a few minutes and talk about what they want.
Make great use of understanding
Using understanding is essential for both the elderly and the caregiver. Even the best caregivers know that the elderly can sometimes get a little grumpy or easily forget things.
It is the caregiver’s job to recognize these situations and deal with them appropriately. Older people can also act like babies, but this type of behavior is never intentional. It’s just a demonstration of declining cognitive abilities.
They may still say things that the caregiver disagrees with or things that make them angry, but it is essential to remain calm and have understanding and patience. The greater the understanding, the more pleasant and harmonious the relationship with the elderly.
Respect for privacy
Having confidence in the elderly means that the caregiver and the elderly person can talk about almost anything and also laugh together.
They can provide the opportunity for open and honest conversations about life in general or about their own experiences, without, however, crossing the boundaries of respect.
It’s essential to be like a friend to the person you’re caring for. This helps to establish a better understanding between the two of you and ensures a good relationship.
But sharing things that should remain private means breaking the barrier of trust.
The caregiver should stay away from family quarrels and not share their own private lives.
Report all forms of abuse
Older people can be a little grumpy and this can cause them to become a little rude to the caregiver.
They are not expected to accept this, but it is also not advisable to gossip about something that has happened. It’s best to report abuse to the right person.
Refusing a friendlier approach can lead to more serious consequences for the situation.
Meeting the unique needs of the elderly can be a difficult task for carers, especially since there are always so many other things to do.
While the caregiver takes care of the elderly in their own home, you can help them perform some tasks themselves, you can even sit with them for a few minutes and talk about what they want.
Make great use of understanding
Using understanding is essential for both the elderly and the caregiver. Even the best caregivers know that the elderly can sometimes get a little grumpy or easily forget things.
It is the caregiver’s job to recognize these situations and deal with them appropriately. Older people can also act like babies, but this type of behavior is never intentional. It’s just a demonstration of declining cognitive abilities.
They may still say things that the caregiver disagrees with or things that make them angry, but it is essential to remain calm and have understanding and patience. The greater the understanding, the more pleasant and harmonious the relationship with the elderly.
Respect for privacy
Having confidence in the elderly means that the caregiver and the elderly person can talk about almost anything and also laugh together.
They can provide the opportunity for open and honest conversations about life in general or about their own experiences, without, however, crossing the boundaries of respect.
It’s essential to be like a friend to the person you’re caring for. This helps to establish a better understanding between the two of you and ensures a good relationship.
But sharing things that should remain private means breaking the barrier of trust.
The caregiver should stay away from family quarrels and not share their own private lives.
Report all forms of abuse
Older people can be a little grumpy and this can cause them to become a little rude to the caregiver.
They are not expected to accept this, but it is also not advisable to gossip about something that has happened. It’s best to report abuse to the right person.
Refusing a friendlier approach can lead to more serious consequences for the situation.
Building trust and being reliable
Elderly people can easily lose confidence in a carer if they arrive late or do not meet the agreed deadlines.
Unlike young people, many older people do not have the patience to continue to trust someone who does not keep their promises.
The caregiver must present himself as someone who can be trusted.
Most older people have lived independently for years, making it difficult to develop trust in others.
Maintenance of physical activity
It is important that older people remain active and involved in social or social activities.
Exercise is important to stay healthy. Often, the elderly become isolated, lonely, or even depressed, especially if they have lost their spouse.
Therefore, they need to stay involved with their family and friends or they may even go out and make new friends.
There are many facilities in the community that offer things to do and places to go that help older people stay social and active.
Healthy eating
In general, the elderly cannot or do not want to cook themselves. However, proper nutrition is essential to stay healthy.
There are several options that can be chosen, from having meals prepared at home by someone else to having home-cooked food delivered. Ideally, they are always balanced and nutritious meals.
Maintain a degree of oversight
If it is possible to install a camera or some kind of motion sensor that monitors the elderly person and warns if an accident happens, this may be an option. Alternatively, a mobile phone or other device can be used to call for help if needed.
Arrange a schedule
Ideal is to set up a schedule for the elderly to establish their routines, such as bathing, going to medical appointments, running errands, cooking, cleaning, among other tasks.
Drawing up a schedule not only helps to keep the senior’s life structured and organized, but also helps the caregiver to organize his work.
Use available resources
There are various resources available for the elderly. These funds can be obtained through the government, the community or charities.
It is important to know what is available to use all available support.