As the holiday season draws to a close, seniors and their loved ones often make New Year’s resolutions. While eating healthier, exercising more, or picking up a new activity are common themes, families with older loved ones may consider setting senior care goals for the coming year.
What are the Benefits of Senior Care Resolutions?
Senior care resolutions set goals and priorities based on what is most important to an older loved one. Family members and caregivers can collaborate on ideas to ensure that everyone communicates, is on the same page, and is working toward the same goals.
Making resolutions can also provide seniors with a sense of direction and clarity. Having a strategy in place to attain particular goals can also help to alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty associated with aging and caring for an older adult.
What are Examples of Senior Care Resolutions?
Here are five examples of senior care resolutions that you can use to guide discussions with your older loved one, family members, and caregivers:
Prepare for senior care
While your elderly loved one may be able to live independently, for the time being, the day may come when they require assistance with daily chores. Find out what their wishes are for eldercare. Do they prefer in-home care or an assisted living facility? What matters most to them as they grow older? After you’ve determined their preferences, explore senior care options.
Declutter and downsize
Many seniors desire to declutter their homes, but they find it difficult to let go of a lifetime’s worth of possessions. Sort through your loved one’s belongings to help them. Allow them to make the final decisions about what to keep, sell, donate, and discard at their own leisure. Although the work will take some time, you and your family may enjoy reminiscing about wonderful experiences.
Keep in contact
It’s easy to lose touch with an elderly loved one if you live far away or are too preoccupied with your own career and family. Make a commitment to staying in touch by scheduling phone or video calls on a regular basis. If technology is an issue, an in-home caregiver can help you set up video calls and other forms of contact.
Make use of technology
A resolution to explore technology, whether for safety, sociability, or convenience, can help improve your older adult’s quality of life.
However, if your loved one is nervous about using the latest technology, having an in-home caregiver at their side can boost their confidence. To lessen the danger of your older parent being a victim of fraud, a caregiver can keep an eye out for online and phone scams.
Ask for help
When it comes to senior care, failing to ask for help could lead to potential problems. It can lead to self-neglect and accidents in the home for older adults as well as burnout, anxiety, and anger among family members. If you’re having trouble caring for your senior — or if you notice that your senior is having trouble caring for themselves or their spouse — consider an in-home caregiver for assistance.
Home Care Assistance of Greater Burlington can provide personal care and companionship to your senior loved one while also giving you and your family peace of mind in the new year and beyond. Contact us today!
