Family Care for the Elderly: Discover Our Tips

Family care for the elderly often requires a whole organization to ensure that a senior can be received in the best possible conditions. So what adjustments need to be made to welcome a senior? How to organize shared activities? What are the existing alternatives?

Preparing Your Home for a Senior

When deciding to welcome an elderly person into your home, you must first ensure that you have a suitable living space for seniors. Indeed, several small tasks may need to be carried out to allow an elderly person to move around more easily in their home on a daily basis. First of all, it is preferable to choose an apartment with an elevator or a single-story house to avoid stairs. Of course, a bedroom must be available if you want to adapt a home for a senior. Furthermore, it may be necessary to add handrails and supports on the walls (to help get up in the bathroom and at the toilet, for example), as can be found in a housing for elderly people.

More information on supporting elderly people can be found on the blog Astuce Santé.

Inquire About Mutual Insurance Offers

As a caregiver, it is important to be informed about all the aids and offers that exist, as medical appointments can sometimes be costly. Knowing about mutual insurance offers ensures that care can be followed as smoothly as possible.

A mutual insurance, or supplementary health insurance, complements basic guarantees. It covers, partially or fully, the acts not reimbursed by Health Insurance and those that are reimbursed very little, to ensure more optimal coverage.

Offer Suitable Activities

Offering family care for the elderly by receiving a loved one at home involves sharing the same living space, but also activities. Indeed, elderly people need to be stimulated daily to remain as healthy as possible. That’s why it can be interesting to share varied activities that are adapted to the capabilities of the senior you are hosting. There’s no need to organize complex outings that would be tiring and potentially risky for the health of the elderly person; instead, we will opt for simple things like preparing a meal, watching a movie, engaging in a manual and creative activity, etc.

Being Well Surrounded

If you want to set up family care for the elderly, it will require dedicating time and energy. Therefore, you must be able to manage this daily burden, but also know how to surround yourself well in this regard. Indeed, it is not necessary to be alone to face this situation. The intervention of professionals can be of great help, such as home assistance that can take care of daily tasks, but also a caregiver who can handle health-related acts and tasks like bathing, meal preparation, and others. Having supportive people around you is also important to enjoy moral and psychological support. Moreover, the support of a healthcare professional such as a psychologist can also be useful when you feel that you are struggling to manage the situation.

Consider Family Care for the Elderly by a Third Party

When we talk about family care for the elderly, it can involve the senior’s family, of course, but also family care by a third party. Indeed, it is entirely possible to opt for family care for the elderly that will be offered by a qualified and trained professional. By going through an organization like CetteFamille (CNews discusses CetteFamille in an article explaining the concept), the senior can be welcomed into the professional’s home with their family. They can thus benefit from a warm environment while being accompanied by a professional daily to take care of them. Family members can, of course, visit. Family care for the elderly can therefore be interesting for elderly people who do not wish to go to a Nursing home and whose family cannot take care of them to benefit from a pleasant living space for seniors (contact the company CetteFamille).

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Ensure Safety at Home

When welcoming an elderly person, it is essential to ensure their safety in the home. Here are some measures to take to guarantee a safe environment:

• Install grab bars in the bathroom and near the toilet.
• Use non-slip mats in high-risk areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom.
• Ensure that lighting is adequate, especially in stairways and hallways.
• Eliminate bulky objects that could cause falls.
• Set up an alert or emergency call system for quick assistance if needed.

Encourage Socialization

Loneliness can be a major issue for elderly people, so it is essential to promote their socialization. Here are some ideas to help them stay connected:

• Organize regular meetings with friends or family members.
• Participate in local groups or clubs that offer activities suitable for seniors.
• Encourage participation in community activities, such as dance classes or creative workshops.
• Use technology to maintain contact, such as video calls or social networks.

Adapt Nutrition to Seniors’ Needs

A balanced diet is essential for the well-being of elderly people. It is important to consider their specific nutritional needs:

• Favor foods rich in fiber to aid digestion.
• Reduce salt and sugar to prevent health problems.
• Include quality protein sources, such as fish, legumes, and dairy products.
• Offer varied and colorful meals to stimulate appetite.
• Regularly hydrate the elderly person by offering suitable drinks.

Encourage Suitable Physical Activity

Maintaining regular physical activity is crucial for the health of seniors. Here are some suggestions for suitable activities:

• Promote daily walks in a pleasant setting.
• Encourage gentle exercises, such as yoga or tai chi, which improve flexibility and balance.
• Participate in gentle gymnastics classes specifically designed for seniors.
• Incorporate board games or playful activities that involve movement, such as gardening.
• Ensure that the chosen activities are enjoyable and not burdensome for the senior.