Planning a home care system for a friend or family member can be overwhelming emotionally, financially, and physically. In the case where all parties decide that home care is the best option, there are many preparations that have to be made in order to ensure a safe and comfortable home care environment. In order to make this transition to home care as smooth and easy as possible, here are the necessary preparations organized into five manageable steps:
1. Remove Potential Hazards
The best way to begin preparing for a transition to home care is to case the home for any potential dangers or hazards. It’s important to walk through the entire house taking note of any vulnerabilities once during the day and again after the sun has gone down, so you can make sure each room has enough lighting – even in the evening. Watch for exposed cords, sharp corners, narrow walkways and throw rugs, which can all contribute to a higher risk of falls.
2. Install Additional Safety Measures
Oftentimes, caregivers will need to invest in additional safety measures to ensure loved ones can live safely and comfortably in their home. Bathrooms tend to be a major area where extra safety equipment needs to be installed. Entering and exiting the shower or bathtub is a big danger for the elderly, so look into adding handrails in and around the tub and toilet, as well as adding a shower chair to make bathing easier. In some cases, adding a home security system and providing your loved one with items to aid daily living will ease safety concerns and promote a happy lifestyle.
3. Organize a Care Schedule
In-home care can be emotionally and physically exhausting, which is why it is so important to not attempt to take on this responsibility alone. Come up with a care schedule with your other family members to plan who can help out with different appointments or just to make sure your loved one always has company during the day. If you still feel like you need additional assistance outside the scope of family, you can hire a nurse to help out on certain days of the week or on an as-needed basis.
4. Research Outside Assistance
Many communities have senior centers that offer a number of services for seniors that can help you manage the workload involved with providing home care. These services range from meal delivery to visiting nurses or even just information for more support services that can help you.
5. Early Discussion
Before implementing any of the previous steps, it’s important to discuss your ideas for home care with your loved one as early as possible to make sure they are happy with the plans and changes to their lifestyle. Having an early discussion with your family members, in particular, will help lessen the financial burden and ease the emotional stress that comes along with this sort of transition.
Transitioning to home care doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful, as long as all the necessary preparations are made early on. As long as you consider these five home care tips, you can feel confident that you’ll come up with the best plan for your family and your loved one.
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