As 1 in 4 Singaporeans are projected to be over the age of 65 by 2030, many of us will be faced with the prospect of caring for or nursing senior family members. As such, it is crucial that we prepare ourselves as much as we can. With many elderly often finding home care to be the most comforting, our homes will need to be properly equipped to create a conducive environment for them. This is especially the case for those who require post-surgery care or have chronic health conditions that need to be managed well.
As such, here are a few things that we can do to create a safe and comfortable home for our elderly loved ones.
Have A Care Plan
Caregiving is a complex role that often involves a lot of time and effort on the part of the caregiver. Subsequently, creating a Care Plan that outlines all of your roles and responsibilities will help you better understand and prepare for being a caregiver. The Care Plan should be designed together with the care recipient, doctors (if any), and other family members so that it will be a comprehensive document summarising key needs and actions.
The Care Plan should include:
- The elderly loved ones’ medical conditions
- A list of their medications and frequency of doctor visits
- Physical and nutritional needs
- Emotional support needs
From the Care Plan, you can develop a routine to take care of your elderly loved ones properly and even modify your home to make it safer for them. In turn, your elderly loved ones will appreciate having a stable environment where they can age gracefully.
Enroll In A Elderly Daycare Service
For the elderly who have physical and emotional needs that require greater care, you can consider enrolling them in an elderly daycare service in Singapore. In such a service, your elderly loved ones will have trained professionals who are well-equipped to care for them. This is a good way to supplement your caregiving and ensure that your senior family members’ needs are being met holistically.
At Orange Valley, our daycare centre for the elderly offer a variety of programmes such as:
- Rehabilitation and maintenance exercise plans
- Social recreational activities
- Cognitively engaging activities
- Assistance with daily living (ADL) services
Not only do these programmes allow seniors to remain physically and mentally active, but they also let them socialise with others. Depending on your senior family members’ conditions and your schedule, you can choose to either have half-day or full-day care.
Consider Respite Care
Everyone needs help once in a while, and more so for family members who are caregivers. Caregiving can be demanding work and it is alright to acknowledge that it is stressful at times. If you are a caregiver, you should consider engaging in respite care to alleviate some of your responsibilities. Here are 2 ways that you can do so:
Professional elderly homecare – This will be helpful if you have senior family members with mobility issues, serious conditions or require medication administered by a trained professional. Professional elderly homecare usually comes in the form of trained caregivers who can provide daily care as well as medical assistance. These can range from light housekeeping to offering companionship and from being medical escorts to administering injections and redressing wounds.
Short term nursing home care – If you need to take a break for a few days and are concerned about your senior family members, a short-term stay at a nursing home is a good solution. Nursing homes provide the most comprehensive support outside of a hospital so you can rest assured that your elderly loved ones will be well looked after. In addition, for the elderly who need post-hospitalisation care, short-term nursing home care is often the most beneficial.
As a caregiver, your health and well-being are just as important as your care recipient. Getting respite care for your elderly loved ones will allow you some time to take care of your own needs and ensure your capability to continue providing care for your loved ones properly.
Orange Valley Nursing Homes provides quality residential care with a human touch. Get in touch with our care consultants at 6499 4699 or email us at [email protected] to learn more about how we can assist you in caring for your loved ones.