We admit that it’s not easy to decide the right kind of care that your elderly loved ones need.
Or perhaps you might be confused when they need personal care, what servings should be provided to them, and stuff like that. But don’t worry as we are here with a complete description of personal care and everything you need to know about it.
Let’s see what we’re talking about.
What Is Personal Care for the Elderly?
Personal care means the care is provided to elderly people who need some assistance with their ADLs (Activities of Daily Living).
Each senior’s care needs will vary according to their mobility and overall health conditions.
This care can be provided by a loved one, a family member, or a caregiver. It’s important to ensure the level of help the elderly requires. Good communication is a must between the caregiver and the elderly.
Personal care can be included but not limited to the points below:
- Washing, bathing, including bed-baths
- Dressing
- Support with shaving
- Helping to the moving position in bed
- Oral hygiene
- Eating/feeding
- Applying body lotions or anything as required
- Helping with hair care and applying make-up
- Cleaning intimate areas after changing continence pads
- Foot care especially for diabetic patients, it’s crucial to be extra vigilant with feet
- Helping to the toilet
- Enriching quality of life and never giving up
When Does Your Loved One Need Personal Care?
It’s common for the older generation to feel uncomfortable asking for personal care so it may be a bit difficult to know when your loved one needs it. But you have to take action before it’s late.
Below are some signs that will help you to understand whether the senior member of your family needs personal care:
- If they stop bathing
- If you notice them wear the same outfit every day
- In case, they stop brushing their teeth
These are not everything but you have to relate their behavior and need to realize their situation.
What Are The Benefits of Personal Care?
At a stage of our age, daily chores seem difficult but there are always ways to make our path easier. This is where the need for personal care comes from. Here are some benefits you can get from keeping your loved ones under personal care.
Having More Family Time
Keeping the eldest members of your family in their sweet homes is the best thing you can do for them at such a stage of their age. It will alleviate their feelings of loneliness and keep their surroundings living.
Getting Rid of Financial Worries
No matter what your situation is, it always will be a less expensive option to keep your loved ones at home. Their long-term care needs may cost a fortune if you think about other options.
Care Can Be Administered By a Trusted Person
It can be your family member or a family physician who can be in charge of your loved one’s care. Elderly people need to be treated with love. So, when it all is happening in front of you, it’s possible to make sure that they are getting the proper care they deserve.
And, finding quality care is not always easy. It may lead you to a more stressful situation. So, better if you just can make sure that your people are under trustworthy caregivers.
Now, you may ask, are there any drawbacks of personal care?
Sorry that the answer is not negative. There are some minor things you may find a bit problematic. For example, personal care will increase your responsibility, adult children in your family may not get the proper care they require, and there’s always a question about privacy/independence.
Still, it’s our responsibility to keep our loved ones safe and happy. So, in most cases, love and affection overweigh the drawbacks.
