What can I do to help keep my elderly parent be safe in their own home?
- Physical health. Empower them to live more healthfully through regular doctor visits, medication management, regular exercise and proper nutrition.
- The main benefits of maintaining strong social bonds are improved mental health, greater longevity, higher rates of happiness and fewer chronic health conditions. Encourage them to keep an active social life. Consider viable transportation options, especially if they no longer drive a car.
- Safeguarding the home. Consider updating and adapting their living environment so that it’s a better fit with their long term needs. Declutter, remove tripping hazards, update alarms and detectors, and look at adding safety features, extra lighting and organizational systems.
Our professional care team can provide assistance with daily living activities that help your parent enjoy their golden years. We provide a variety of companion care services to help maintain their physical health, offer them support and friendship, and keep them connected with their social network.
How do I deal with my spouse’s increased aggressive behaviour?
First, try to understand the cause of their aggressive behaviour such as pain, frustration, grief, boredom, medication, lack of sleep, noisy background or loneliness. Ask questions about how they are feeling.
A few tips for coping:
- Reassure them and speak calmly
- Listen to their concerns
- Help them keep a daily routine
- Try different types of activities that provide them with a purpose
- Build quiet time into the day such as soothing music and reading
- Talk to their physician
- Limit the amount of caffeine, sugar and “junk food” they eat
If you find you need more support to deal with behavioural concerns, please contact us for a private consultation.
How do I convince my ageing parent that it’s time to get them support?
The health and safety of your loved one are of utmost importance for you. At some point, decisions must be made about their wellbeing.
Make preserving your loving relationship a top priority: ask questions, listen, work together and be patient. The best way to persuade your parents to accept help later in their life is by starting conversations early, before their health and cognitive functions decline. A good family discussion around their feelings and the support options available is the best approach. Ask questions to direct the discussions, know your options in advance and point out the benefits.
If you need guidance about best available options for your situation, please contact us for a private consultation.
How can I help my parent who lives in a different city?
Even if you live far away from each other, you can still make sure your ageing parents are leading a safe and healthy life.
To start, evaluate their needs, their lifestyle and their mobility. Figure out where exactly they need help and what that support might look like.
- Evaluate what you can actually do to help them from a distance
- Research local support and resources for engagement, cooking meals, transportation – whatever is needed
- Find relatives and friends who can check in with them regularly
- Plan visits and stay connected with them
- Have an emergency plan
- If needed, consider moving them to a senior living community
Working with a professional home health care company like For the One You will help you evaluate needs and offer you a list of local resources.
I get so much conflicting advice from my friends and family. How do I know what’s best for my spouse?
First, thank your friends and family because they have your best interest at heart.
You know your spouse best and know how they will respond to different situations and communication styles. Plus, taking care of your spouse can also jeopardize your own mental and physical health.
Here are some ways to support a spouse with dementia or Alzheimer’s:
- Plan together for the future
- Talk to your physician who can guide you to the proper resources
- Write down where you feel support is needed, and ask for help if you need it
- Maintain a positive emotional connection
- Take care of yourself too!
- Stay healthy together through physical activity, nutritional meals, and daily routines that include socialization
It can be difficult to navigate through this changing landscape on your own. If you need some guidance and support, please contact us for a personal consultation.
What is an End of Life Doula?
Patricia is a certified End of Life Doula, ready to help your loved one navigate their end-of-life process.
How do I get my spouse to start practicing personal hygiene?
The best thing is to establish a regular daily routine that frequently gets them into the bathroom.
A few suggestions:
- Make the bathroom warm and comfortable
- Leave out items ready to be used such toothbrush + toothpaste to help cue them
- Use positive reinforcement and focus on fun, post-hygiene activities
- Say “we” not “you”
- Lay out fresh clothes and let them know they can change
What are your safety protocols around COVID-19?
We are committed to supporting our care team, our clients and their families to stay healthy and thrive during the COVID-19 outbreak.
We have several safety policies in place including:
- We follow WorkSafe BC’s safety guidelines and Health Link BC’s screening checklist
- Our team is provided with and trained on the proper use of personal protection equipment
- We follow BC Centre for Disease Control’s best practices and request if a team member or client experience symptoms that they self-isolate
Please contact us to answer any questions or concerns you may have around the safety of your loved one.