Tag: Home attendant for elderly

How Winters Affect the Elderly

Winter is just around the corner. In many places, temperatures have already begun to drop, warm jackets are coming out and, the days get longer and darker. While winter may be an enjoyable and exciting time for some, there is a category of people who may struggle more than others with the cold. 

Surprisingly, winters can have a negative impact on the overall health of the elderly or senior citizens. It is important to keep a watchful eye on them, have the contact number of the best physiotherapist around and even sign up for home healthcare in some cases to ensure their safety.

So how does the winter impact their health:

Increases risk of hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the body becomes so cold it starts to shut down. In cases where there is extremely cold weather, the risk of hypothermia goes up exponentially. This happens because their bodies cannot withstand the cold as long as younger people. Elderly people naturally create less body heat, which means they are often colder than younger individuals to start with. Watch out for slowed reactions and movements, sleepiness, slurred or slow speech and confusion.

Cardiac troubles

Patients with existing underlying heart conditions are at greater risk for cardiovascular troubles during winters. The cooler temperatures lower the overall body heat. This can cause the blood vessels to contract, reducing oxygen supply to the body, increasing the risk of a stroke. The extra work that the body has to put in to stay warm can also lead to higher blood pressure and heart attacks. If you have a senior citizen at home who has pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, having a nurse at home may be a good idea. 

Respiratory illness

The drop in temperature commonly leads to respiratory infections in older people. The main reason for this is that excessive cold lowers their immunity and weakens lung function. Asthma patients and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) need to maintain special care during winters.

Increased pain

Another side effect of the cold is that muscle and existing pains tend to worsen in the cold weather. This can be especially difficult for those suffering from arthritis and other conditions as it may hinder their mobility significantly. Look out for the best physiotherapist to help you out through this as it can impact their movement significantly. 

These realities may sound scary and a little bit daunting, but a few simple steps will help keep your loved ones safe and cosy. 

Here’s what you can do:

  • Ensure they wear lots of layers.
  • Use heaters indoors.
  • Get regular check-ups.
  • Keep a very close eye on them and pay attention to anything that may seem a little off.
  • Hire help – Look around for a nurse at home from the SSSPS home healthcare provider to lend a hand.

Having a helping hand can put your mind at ease and your beloved ones safe and cared for at all times!

Reasons Why We Need Caretakers for Elderly at Home

As our parents get older, we may notice that their age begins to catch up with them. Suddenly, the videos they watch seem louder, they take longer to process what you’re saying to them and moving around doesn’t seem as breezy as it once did. At first, things may begin subtly, but over time, you may see that things are becoming quite challenging for them. 

Parents and grandparents are important to us, and we know that we need to care for them, but sometimes, it may not be so easy. They are physically, mentally and emotionally dependent which can often take a toll on the family who undertakes to look after them. In such cases, home healthcare may be a wonderful option for you and here’s why:

  • Caretakers for elderly can monitor their health.

As non-medical professionals, we may not always be alert and attentive to certain symptoms. Confusion for example, in some cases, maybe a medical symptom, but to us, we may not know when to sound the alarm. However, by having a nurse at home, they will be well aware of your parent’s conditions and monitor them closely. 

  • Bathroom & hygiene.

For a patient who struggles with mobility, assistance with going to the washroom and maintaining basic hygiene can be a relief. When a person struggles with their motor skills, oftentimes, hygiene is not fully maintained as they may not be able to clean themselves well. Caregivers for elderly help in changing adult diapers, if required. This is a big support to the family members as they might not be able to drop everything to attend to them each time and as a result, the patient may end up waiting too long to go to the washroom or having a delayed diaper change. 

  • Personalised homecare.

By remaining at home, they have their attendant all to themselves along with all the elements of their comfort like their blanket, their clothes, shower, washroom and all that’s familiar. They are able to set their own routine and they remain in charge of how they live their life, giving them a sense of independence and individuality. 

  • Peace of mind for the family.

For the family, knowing that their parents are in their own home, with their own devices and accessible at all times. There is less to worry about in terms of safety, comfort and knowing that they are always in good hands.

  • Ability to customise the environment.

An important factor is that when the senior citizen is at home, you can customise the environment to fit their needs. Whether it is installing handlebars in the shower, moving around furniture to accommodate a walker, lower shelves and cabinets or carpeting the floor to prevent slipping. Whatever your parent needs, you can arrange for in their home environment giving them the ability to be independent even if they do have home healthcare. 

  • It may be more affordable.

In cases where the patient needs round the clock care, it can be more economical to have a nurse at home administering the care they need rather than institutionalised care. 

Most importantly, you get to keep your loved one near and dear. These memories of their final years are memories that you and your family can really cherish, especially when you have the necessary help to make things easy. 

Tips to choose the right home attendant for elderly

In search of a home attendant for elderly? With so many services and companies out there, how does one choose the right male attendant? It can often be quite overwhelming as we’d want to ensure that our loved ones are in good and safe hands, but we may not have the time to interview, screen and do the relevant background checks. Even if we do, how do we know we can really trust the home attendant for elderly? Here are some tips out experience has taught us:

A credible organization – One of the best ways to book the absolute best ward boy services from a trusted and reputed organization. Looking out for an organization that has several years of experience and credibility in the industry saves you from having to do the screening process yourself. It also ensures that you have a contract with a company that would be answerable for any issues that may arise.

Experience – It may go without saying, but ensuring that your male attendant has a good amount of experience under his belt is quite key, especially since looking after elderly requires skill and knowledge.

Language – Ensuring that your professional is able to both understand and speak in the language that you and your loved one speaks is important. Communication barriers can bring unnecessary stress into a situation, but ease of communication on the other hand can really make the relationship beautiful.

Physical strength – This is an often missed and forgotten area when it comes to screening the right candidate. It is however extremely important as the elderly may need support with their mobility. Ensuring that your attendant is able to bear the weight of the b patient when necessary is important.

Health background – Another often forgotten check is their health background. Caring for the elderly can be physically demanding, so it’s important to ensure that your home attendant is able to remain in a healthy state. This prevents taking time off for health reasons. The last thing we’d want is to have the caretaker to become the patient!

Specified Knowledge – In cases where the patient suffers from a specific sickness like paralysis, high blood pressure or even diabetes, it’s important that the attendant knows exactly how to care for the patient and when to alert the doctor if required.

Nature – A good natured, friendly and cheerful attendant can make a huge difference. When a patient is struggling with failing health, they often feel a little low. A cheerful attendant however, may be able to lift their spirits and keep them in a positive mind space. On the other hand, a serious ward boy can make the patient feel far worse which may actually hinder their progress.

Priorities – Last but not least, having an attendant who will priorities the patient and ensure that they are always number one is important. There’s nothing worse than paying for someone to come and be on their phone or caring for their own needs instead of paying attention to the patient.

Hiring the right person may sound overwhelming, but having a company to do the right checks for you can save you time and effort. You’re sure to be in good hands with the best organization in your pocket.