Many elderly individuals wish to stay in their homes for as long as they can. Some of them, however, are unable to independently perform their activities of daily living, or ADLs. Because of this, they may need to move to an assisted living facility because they need help with their basic needs.
An excellent alternative to an assisted living facility is hiring an in-home elderly caregiver in your area. He or she will help your senior loved one with his or her ADLs so that the aging adult can better enjoy his or her senior years. Here are some ways an elderly home care provider can help your loved one with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, and eating.
Bathing And Dressing
Depending upon your loved one's cognitive ability and physical health, the caregiver can simply assist the person with bathing, or give the person a bath. Assisting with bathing may mean that the caregiver just sets out the soap, washcloth, and towel for the person, helps with washing the back, and then stays close by in case the individual needs help or is ready to get out of the bathtub. Conversely, if the aging adult is cognitively impaired, has mobility problems, or is too sick to bath independently, the caregiver will actually bathe the patient instead of just assisting the individual.
As far as dressing goes, if the senior suffers from arthritis pain, the caregiver can assist by helping put pants on, buttoning shirts, and tying shoes. Seniors without cognitive problems can choose their own clothing, however, those with dementia may make inappropriate clothing choices. For these people, the caregiver may need to choose the outfit and dress the individual.
Eating And Grooming
If your senior loved one is unable to prepare meals or eat independently, the in-home elderly caregiver can help by making nutritious meals and assisting the person with holding their glass or cup and grasping utensils.
If your loved one is totally dependent on his or her care, the elderly caregiver will feed the individual. The caregiver will also help with grooming, including brushing or combing the hair, oral hygiene, trimming the nails, and makeup application. The caregiver can even drive the elderly person to the beauty shop or to the barber.
If your aging loved one needs help with his or her activities of daily living, call an in-home caregiving agency. During your phone call, you can ask about the caregiver's experience working with dementia patients, discuss the cost of hiring a round-the-clock caregiver, and ask if the caregiver can help with laundry and household chores.
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