We all want to see our senior relatives happy and healthy, and in many cases, ensuring that they can remain as independent as possible is a big part of this. Many older people prefer to continue on with their own lives as normal and be as independent as possible in their golden years. However, this might not always be easy if they have additional health and mobility needs that can get in the way. If you want to ensure that your senior relative is able to stay as independent as possible while still having their care needs met, here are some options to consider.
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Home Care
Home care such as a night nurse for elderly people from Cooperative Home Care can be an ideal choice if your relative wants to continue living in their own home but has additional care needs that should be met. Home care allows your relative to continue living at home in an environment that they know and are familiar with, while having somebody visit during the day or in the night to ensure that they are safe and that any medical needs are met, such as taking medication, personal care or changing dressings. It allows seniors to stay in a comfortable, familiar environment while giving them and their families peace of mind when it comes to their health and wellbeing.
Home Adaptions
If your relative wishes to live in their own home and remain as independent as possible for as long as possible, then adapting the home might be necessary. For example, homes that have multiple floors might be difficult for a senior person with mobility issues to navigate, so adaptions such as a ground floor bathroom or a stair lift might be necessary to help ensure that they can continue using the entire property as intended. If your relative is a wheelchair user, then widening doorways and placing switches and sockets in more accessible areas might be necessary. It may also be worth making changes to the bathroom to ensure that it is safer for them to use.
Assisted Living
If your senior relative is happy to move but wants to stay independent, then an assisted living facility might be an ideal choice for them. There are different types of assisted living communities with services and options to suit everybody’s needs. Some are designed for seniors suffering from dementia, for example, with features that allow them to live as independently as possible while providing additional security to prevent wandering. Others are designed for seniors to live independently while having call buttons for staff and other ways to get hold of caregivers as and when they are needed. Others provide home care with regular visits to seniors to help with everyday tasks, healthcare and personal care while they live in their own home.
Independence is recommended for as long as possible for seniors, giving them a sense of purpose and allowing them to live their life on their own terms. However, if your relative has additional medical or personal care needs, it might be necessary to consider making some adjustments to ensure both can be provided.