Caring for an older adult can be a challenging task. And while the aging of our parents, grandparents, and loved ones is a natural reality, the truth is that some people need more care than others due to certain specific conditions.
Some family members choose to keep their seniors at home , with or without specialized assistance, because they believe this is the best option to keep them integrated into the home, without detaching them from their routines and habits, and, therefore, motivated and supported in all their needs.
Others, based on their own judgment and/or medical advice, believe they would be better served and happier in a senior center with specialized care and ongoing support. These places, in addition to socializing with people their own age , offer activities, adequate nutrition, and comprehensive medical care.
Regardless of the option chosen by the family or recommended by a doctor, there are certain issues that must be taken into account when caring for older adults , and we will mention them below.
Why can caring for older adults become complicated?
The moment an adult resists help is when their health condition can become complicated. The consequences of this evasive behavior can be numerous and have very negative effects on their physical and emotional well-being.
- Endurance
Resistance often arises when older adults are experiencing some type of physical and/or cognitive decline that bothers, confuses, and stresses them, such as the loss of a spouse and/or their independence. This emotional situation can lead to sadness, anger, loss of appetite, and even depression.
- Solve the crisis as soon as possible
These crises of hopelessness, lack of protection, and isolation can cause older adults to become neglectful , stop communicating, isolate themselves socially, become ill, or become injured.
This is a critical stage requiring special attention, and requires the collaborative work of the family and geriatric specialists, psychologists, neurologists, and others, so that, based on the patient's situation, they can recommend and advise the family on the most appropriate way to resolve the problem.
- Assisted living
In an interesting article on this page, we tell you all about the effects of assisted living , which, according to scientific studies on health and well-being, would bring an increase in happiness and quality of life to older adults who are going through the aforementioned circumstances.
Assisted living means being able to provide patients who need permanent assistance with a better daily life, fully focused on meeting their needs. This can be achieved from home, but also through residential care for seniors.
What types of care for older adults exist?
According to the World Health Organization , hearing loss, cataracts, neck pain and arthritis in the bones, chronic lung disease, diabetes, depression and dementia are some of the most common conditions of old age, and as the years advance, the more likely it is to have more than one pathology at a time.
As deterioration increases, older adults will require more care. And often, homes are not the appropriate place to care for them, whether due to a lack of space, supplies, adapted equipment, or the training and physical condition of those in charge.
The Protocol for Nursing Care of Older Adults (PAM) contains a series of standards of care, quality, and attention that must be guaranteed both in the outpatient setting and in health institutions for the elderly.
Depending on the level of geriatric deterioration of the patient, two types of care will be chosen:
- Outpatient care
This type of care requires nursing professionals to provide care, monitoring, and support to patients, their families, and caregivers in order to resolve any crisis that develops at home.
Specialists should identify all possible risk factors based on the adult's medical history and train and advise the family to promote healthy aging through proper nutrition, exercise, stimulation, medication control, and hygiene.
- Hospital care
The care protocol indicates that, regardless of the reason for the patient's hospitalization, a care plan should be established and potential risk factors that could worsen or complicate the adult's geriatric conditions should be identified, such as pain, bedsores, malnutrition, immobility, among others.
Once a comprehensive plan has been identified to ensure the older adult's home or hospital stay is as comfortable as possible, nursing professionals should train their families and caregivers on:
- Use and management of medications
These must be administered conscientiously and efficiently in a timely manner, with knowledge of their effects and the adverse results in the event of poor administration.
- Mobility
It is of utmost importance to learn how to move and rotate a person's body with limited strength and voluntary control of their body, to avoid injuries, chafing, numbness, and general discomfort.
- Orientation in time and space
Learn to perform a variety of exercises for cognitive and physical stimulation.
- Personal hygiene
Proper hygiene for people with limited mobility or who are bedridden is of utmost importance to prevent infections. Also important is having products that adapt to the symptoms of adults, such as waterproof incontinence pads .
- Sleep hygiene
Having appropriate therapeutic elements, such as mattresses, cushions, and pillows, tailored to the adult's pathology is ideal for their comfort and good rest.
- Home safety and/or conditioning measures
To prevent accidents and the patient's readmission after discharge, it is necessary to refurbish the home. This includes features such as railings and non-slip flooring to ensure their safety, as well as special beds and accessories for improved mobility and post-traumatic rehabilitation.
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- Prevention of bedsores and pressure ulcers
Having therapeutic products to prevent injuries due to prolonged bed rest during hospitalization, such as anti-bedsore mattresses and personal hygiene items, is ideal for making painful and uncomfortable periods more comfortable for adults.
- Diet and nutrition
Balanced food based on your personal diagnosis and compromised body organs for faster progress and to prevent deterioration.
Every older adult needs care in the final stages of life , as it is a natural process that we will all go through at some point; it is inevitable and part of human development.
A person whose needs are met will feel more at ease through the inconveniences of aging or illness, and will feel more hopeful and motivated to improve and support their family.
Ensuring the best possible life is a right that cannot be denied to anyone. They must be treated, whether at home, in a medical center, or in a permanent adult residence, in accordance with all existing measures and legislation. Comprehensive care cannot be denied, nor can their health and well-being be neglected.
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