any elderly people crave a sense of independence as they move into their later years. If you want your loved ones to feel safe and cared for while allowing them a sense of freedom, then have a read through this article for some great ideas of how to achieve this.
Use Home Delivery Food Services
As our loved ones get older, chances are that they will find it increasingly difficult to carry out independent day to day tasks like going to the shops. Although you could help your loved ones out by going to the shops for them and offering to help out with tasks that they are unable to do themselves, this can often mean that your loved ones sense a lack of independence and wish that they didn’t need to rely on those around them for help.
One of the ways in which you can help elderly loved ones feel more independent is to set up a home delivery food service for them. This will mean that they can order food straight to their door whenever they need it. Instead of having to ring you up and ask you to go to a food shop for them, they will have the freedom of ordering items as and when they feel like it. This can take a great deal of responsibility off your shoulders as well as allowing your elderly loved ones a new sense of freedom and independence.
Consider An Independent Living Community
Sometimes, elderly relatives need round the clock care and when this isn’t something that you are able to provide, sometimes the only option feels like moving them to a care home. This can be a tricky decision and many people feel a great sense of guilt in sending their loved ones to a care home as, though they are not able to care for them, they recognize that their loved one is eager for a sense of independence, however small.
A great way of ensuring that your loved one’s needs are cared for, while allowing them a sense of independence is to encourage them to consider independent living communities. Assisted living takes the burden off you as a carer to your loved one, and means they will have access to all the amenities, activities, and services they could need and, most importantly, there will be 24/7 round the clock care.
Install Safety Features In Their Home
Adding in safety features like bars and support frames where needed is a great way of helping your loved one feel more independent. There are lots of physical things that you can install into a home to make an elderly person’s day easier. Many elderly people find it difficult to move around the house, so installing handrails can be a great idea. It’s also a great idea to install a panic button in their house so that if there’s any kind of accident, they have the peace of mind that the emergency services can be called quickly.
Balancing making sure that your loved one is cared for and has all the medical assistance that they might need while allowing them freedom and independence can be tricky. Remember there are always compromises that you can make and more moderate options for full time care than sending them straight to a care home.
*collaborative post
From https://artofhealthyliving.com/3-ways-to-help-elderly-loved-ones-live-independent-lives/