Dependent Older Adults and the Family's Role in Their Care

It's in old age that family support is most needed for older adults . Whether for health reasons, balance, strength, or simply due to natural ailments associated with age that prevent them from performing certain activities normally.

In some cases, a patient's ongoing care will be essential, and the family must take an active role . It's important to note that dependency isn't just a necessity of old age; young people, adults, and seniors alike need support from their families and/or professionals to lead a comfortable and dignified life.

When the situation arises of providing assistance to a loved one , families' options are usually the following:

• take them to specialized care centers such as residences, nursing homes, and nursing homes.
• Hire home care for as long as your budget allows, or provide an outpatient day residence.
• A large percentage of families choose to keep their dependent elderly adult at home and care for them themselves , either permanently or in rotation with other family members.

Whatever the decision, it is essential NOT to abandon the elderly and to always try to be present, at least in the decisions to ensure their well-being and enforce their rights.

Family and older adults: accepting changes and adapting

When you begin caring for a dependent person, there will be many changes in the caregiver's daily life; not to mention their family, social life, work routine, and the intimacy of their partner. The more involved you are in the daily care of the child, adult, or elderly person, the greater the impact.

In many cases, the responsibility for care falls on a single person in the family group , while the others have a less active role, merely accessory or non-existent.

Having to take care of a dependent person is often a significant limitation on one's life, which is why it's so difficult to adapt and accept changes.

If the relationship was good before the dependency , the bond between the older adult and family is likely to be more pleasant and the older adult will be able to adapt more easily to the new home with their children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, and no reproaches or resentments related to past times will arise.

Love, solidarity, patience, empathy, and ethics are the emotions that will allow us to adapt and accept changes, and also to put ourselves in the shoes of others. The independent and strong people we once knew are now more fragile and need our help and collaboration .

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Here are some tips for caring for an older adult if you decide to take responsibility:

• Diagnose your needs

You'll need to list and assess the priority needs of the person you're caring for and what resources you'll use to address those needs. Make a plan for what each family member can contribute to facilitate the process.

• It has the collaboration of the family

To achieve overall peace and happiness for the elderly, you must reach family agreements regarding each member's responsibilities. Arguments and friction will be common, but reaching agreements so that no one compromises will be ideal.

• Have suitable professionals

Adults often have more than one condition and require specific health care, even when everything seems fine. Gather information, studies, and opinions to help prevent short-, medium-, and long-term problems.

• Understanding when the adult needs full assistance

If you require more comprehensive assistance for longer periods of the day, consider hiring professional help; they can even provide assistance at your home. Don't hesitate to consult a doctor or social services.

• Establish routines

According to experts, it's important to establish schedules for all of an older adult's activities, including bathing, eating, sleeping, relaxing, and walking. A daily routine helps seniors feel secure and motivates them to put in more effort.

You can take advantage of and add to your experience as a caregiver these 14 very valuable tips for caring for the elderly at home.

Causes of abandonment of the elderly

There are many theories and theses that talk about old age , as the stage of life in which a person will feel most hopeless , and not only from an emotional perspective but also from a social and economic perspective.

While these are cultural, educational, and value-building issues for young people from childhood, one of the most common reasons for dropping out is when their useful working life has ended. The person ceases to be economically productive, becoming a potential burden on their family . This begins a period known as role reversal , where children will hypothetically have to take care of their parents.

Everything seems natural and orderly as long as the older adult's health and independence prevail, but when that factor also begins to fail, for example, due to illness, the death of a spouse, among others, that is when conflicts and real decision-making can begin.

A dependent person will be welcomed into a new home and will have to adapt to new rules and, often, deal with close family members who will be unhappy with this decision. Sometimes, emotional issues and the elderly person's needs cannot be reconciled, and the decision is made to place them in a nursing home.

In some cases, we can speak of partial abandonment. Admitting a dependent person to a nursing home is not considered abandonment, as long as they are visited regularly and the institution ensures that all their rights and needs are met. 

Did you know that abandoning an elderly person is considered violence and is punishable by law in some countries? Here you can find disturbing figures and the reasons why they are often abandoned .

Tips for caring for bedridden seniors

There are some key aspects to keep in mind when caring for a bedridden adult. Below, we'll explain what they mean.

Functional Activity: Activity is essential to keep muscles, brain, and circulation moving. It is recommended that the patient be active to the best of their ability.

Skin Care : The skin of an elderly person living in bed is exposed to bedsores, infections, and burns , so proper treatment is essential to prevent them.

A varied diet: It's an important time, a distraction that will also give you energy. You can read this article for more information on nutrition under these circumstances: What is the best diet for older adults?

Patients require round-the-clock care: You must remain constantly alert for minor needs. Caregiving schedules should be established to avoid stress and burnout.

Important: Social participation of older adults

Supporting, listening, and providing affection to the elderly is essential to prevent withdrawal, sadness, and psychological and mental illnesses that can worsen their condition.

It's important not to completely displace them from their daily lives , to offer them new challenges and social environments, but also to always include them in family activities without losing contact and showing interest in their concerns and afflictions.

It's all about a cycle, where at some point we will be in a vulnerable position, and therefore we must think carefully about what decision is appropriate and what is best for the people we love .