Promoting Senior Health
Health is one of the most crucial caregiving topics. It’s also somewhat complex. You need to think about ways to reduce the risk of health conditions while also managing any current health conditions.
As a caregiver, you may find this particularly challenging, as you have your own health needs to navigate as well. These shouldn’t be ignored, as your health has many impacts on your own life and the person you’re caring for.
Preventative Approaches
Preventative approaches are any that reduce the risk of health problems. This includes getting enough exercise, eating well, managing medication, visiting the doctor regularly, and following health advice.
Some seniors are excellent at managing their own health, while others need considerable support and encouragement from caregivers. Some seniors are also stubborn and unwilling to follow health advice.
Living Environment
Where the senior lives impacts their health too. They need a safe environment without much risk of injury and a level of support that matches their needs.
What this looks like depends on the senior and the situation. Some can safely live independently, while others need support from family members or even need to be in an assisted living facility.
Managing Health Problems
Health problems make life much more difficult, especially when seniors have multiple to contend with. While some conditions can simply be treated with medication, others require behavioral and lifestyle changes to keep the senior safe.
For example, people with diabetes often need to pay close attention to their blood sugar levels, which means choosing their food carefully. They have medication, test strips, and other tools to think about too, to the extent that a diabetes tracking sheet is sometimes needed.
Other health conditions present their own challenges, including diabetes, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Planning and End-of-Life
The importance of planning can’t be overstated. This includes thinking about end-of-life, inheritance, and advance care directives, plus other areas like basic day-to-day organization, where the senior will live, and what happens if there’s a health crisis.