Strategies Caregivers Must Adopt to Improve Lives of Seniors

Taking care of the increasing population of baby boomers in the U.S. is not just a challenge for national governments, health care, and policymakers, but, also for the closely-knit family members and friends. Lucky are those who have elders at home, for they are the strong foundation on which a nation thrives. Seniors help in creating history and contribute to nurturing the youth of nations across the globe. But, if we rationalize the approach and be mindful, seniors are the ones who need the utmost care and affection from their loved ones. At this age, remaining in a good health is important, but is it only the love of the near and dear that is enough to help elders stay fit and healthy? The answer is No.

Busy lifestyles have pushed citizens to adopt caregiving services. To be more precise, in-home care services are in demand and seem to be having a brighter future in the years to come.

Before we head forward, let us first look at the statistics through the research provided by Forbes. It says:

• About 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day. Their research estimates that many of the 67 million people over the age of 60 would need care services. In the next 20 years, another 65 million more Americans will turn 65 whereas experts predict the number of elders who need long-term care will increase to 15 million by 2050.

The above figures speak volumes about the change the U.S. will experience in the upcoming years. Although the increasing elder population is being considered as one of the biggest trends in the substantial growth of the home care industry, it is a matter that requires attention on a level of care as well.

No doubt, the industry is expecting a boom, another question that needs an answer is that, are there enough caregivers to meet the care demands of the growing elder population?

Let us clarify this with the facts again. Forbes suggests that the need for hiring will increase with the comparable rise in the older population.

• It says the employee turnover remains the ongoing challenge with rates exceeding 33% in senior care, as per the Argentum’s 2020 Workforce Trends Report. It also says that the turnover exceeded 70% among caregiving staff in several skilled nursing facilities. The pandemic highlighted the shortage of caregiving staff, but it also brought forth initiatives to improve the situation. The Home Care industry saw the light of day when the Biden Administration announced the release of $460 Million for Home-Based Care Services in May 2021.

This was followed by the former announcement made in March which included $400 Billion in the New American Jobs Plan.

Such support from the people in power is supposed to bring potential changes in the life of caregivers as well as the Home Care Industry as a whole. But, what holds after the boom in the industry is the type of care that the senior population would require.

Caring for a senior is a long-term process. It requires continuous monitoring and control. Getting by is not enough, living with a wonderful quality of life is of extreme importance. The right to live with respect and allowing seniors to age in place with dignity should be the goal. It is important for all seniors. Extra care is needed by those who suffer from chronic diseases like Dementia, or Alzheimer’s. Feeling fulfilled at an older age is as important as overall well-being. Being independent, having a positive life approach are some of the skills required but these cannot be adopted alone. Caregivers who take care of senior’s needs must adopt some of the life-saving techniques and involve their senior clients too.

Treating Depression and Feelings of Loneliness

People in their old age tend to get depressed and feel lonely. Depression if not treated early affects not just the life of your loved one, but also affects the people around them. Many reasons like losing a spouse, early retirement can lead to a depressed state of mind. It could also be caused by excess medications or their side effects. As a caregiver, it is important for you to treat their depressed state of mind. All you need to do is:

• First, recognize the signs
• Seek the help of family member’s
• Know the history, try to know the cause
• Talk to the client’s family and friends
• Figure out things that make your client happy

Engage your Client in Simple Activities

At an old age, people yearn for good company. They look for people who can sit and talk but, unfortunately, it can be difficult for a full-time professional individual to attend to their elders all day long. So, it is the task of a caregiver to engage the aged client in some of the simpler activities. For instance, allow them to participate in folding laundry, organizing cupboards or drawers, creating to-do lists, preparing dinner tables, serving, going grocery shopping, etc. By involving them, you will be able to make them feel useful and needed. They will feel that they are still needed and are not being a burden on someone. Creating opportunities through such small house chores will shed off the feeling of loneliness and be a major stress buster, life-saving technique.

Exercise Daily or Engage in any Physical Activity

It might sound cliché, but, exercise is needed at all ages to stay fit and healthy. At an old age, it is even more required to keep the body active and moving. But, the only difference is in the type of exercises that the elders must and must not do. Caregivers who take care of senior clients must allow them to do exercises ideal for their age like:

• Brisk walking
• Chair yoga
• Workout with fitness bands

Don’ts

• Squats
• Rock climbing
• Fast, long-distance running
• Crunches
• Squats with dumbbells

Anything that requires higher strength, high-intensity training should be avoided.

Work on Mental Health

Mental health is often neglected. It is even more important than just physical well-being. Family caregivers should keep their elderly clients mentally active. They should not be left idle as it could lead to over thinking and eventually affect their overall health. Here are some easy activities that seniors can engage in:

• Puzzle games
• Brain games, activities
• Reading, writing
• Painting, creating art and craft
• Knitting, drawing

These techniques might look simple, but makes a world of difference in saving a life from mental breakdowns, and feeling lonely. Adopting such practices regularly can make a person happy and avoid the accumulation of redundant thoughts. Staying busy is one of the best activities one can do.

Involve Family and Friends

Even though it gets hard to involve close ones with their elders on a regular basis, you as a caregiver can plan a one-day trip, a visit to a friend; plan a dinner, annual celebrations — birthdays, anniversaries, holidays or you can even take them to a church, charity organization or join any community.

Technology and Caregivers

Caregiving at home has been a matter of debate for a long time now. But, with time, all the myths have been busted and caregiving at home is trending. The outset of the pandemic is the one reason which has forced home care agencies to provide care at home. This practice of caring virtually was further boosted the use of smart technology. Home care providing agencies resorted to the use of comprehensive home care software that did not only offered care services but also helped in meeting the real-time demands of the elders in emergencies. Caregivers often develop the relation of companionship with the elders. They become their friends and eventually a part of the family too.

Smart home care software proved to be a boom for home care businesses as it kept the ball of caregiving rolling even during the tough times. Virtual care and providing advice, alerting the client, and responding in no time became the new normal. The technology even helped caregivers in reaching the remotest parts of the country.

Cutting-edge technology and caregiving services are now operating on an equal footing. They are now on the same page. Home care agencies are extensively resorting to smart home care scheduling software to help caregivers and seniors. The software has made the life of a caregiver easy by reducing redundant administrative activities to around 80%. In fact, it is also helping seniors in staying up-to-date with their care plan, or activities to be carried out during the day. The use of home care software has brought transparency to all levels of the caregiving business