Whether your older relative is living at home with you or wanting to stay living independently living in their own home there are some ways to care for older relatives that can make life easier for you all. At the end of the day, we all live busy lives and so even if we want to care for older relatives 24/7 that isn’t always practically possible, so here are some ways to make it work.
Make Sure The Home is Suitable
It doesn’t matter how much work you put in, if the home that they live in is not suitable then it just won’t work out. For example, if you live in a house with stairs and mobility is becoming an issue then you need to do something to address this. For example, you might want to explore a company such as Handicare Stairlifts UK who can help you decide on the right option for having a stairlift installed and this can really help with helping an older person navigate the whole of their house.
Get The Whole Family Involved
Being the only person to can for older relatives can be hard work, so make sure you do what you can to get the whole family involved. Even those that don’t live local can offer support in the shape of phone calls & letters to help your relative feel connected to the family. You’ll be surprised at how much difference can be made to someone’s day when they receive an email with some family photos in or a phone call from a grandchild.
See What Help is Out There
It is important to recognise that there is also professional help that you can get and this doesn’t always have to cost lots of money. Speak to their GP or social services team about what help might be available and how you can apply – even someone coming in a couple of times a week to tidy up a little can make all the difference.
Make Use of Technology
Making use of technology really helps too – set up an alarm pendant that they can wear around their neck and press if they get into trouble. Use an Alexa dot for them to be able to drop in on you if they need help or even just set a reminder that they need something on the shopping list. Things don’t need to be complicated, but they can really help if set up and used in the right way.
If you have any advice on how to care for older relatives then we’d love to hear your thoughts below.
*Collaborative post
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs. Specialising in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and parenting, Debz brings a wealth of hands-on experience to every guide. Her mission at Stereotude is to simplify the modern world for her readers through expert curation and fiercely honest advice.