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How do caregivers help the elderly?

The population of the U.S. is growing older rapidly. There are more than 46 million elderly adults who are 65 years old or older. It is estimated that by 2050, the number of the elderly is expected to increase to nearly 90 million.

A magnificent number of these older adults will likely live alone or away from their family members. They will need help with their daily chores, nutrition, and so on. Therefore, providing the proper health care and assistance is essential.

Caregivers of Health and Care Professional Network can provide assistance in taking care of seniors.

Who is the elderly?

If you were to ask one hundred different people about the age number to realize a person is considered an elderly person, you would probably get a hundred different answers.

There is no single definition to categorize people as elderly. One person might be living in a retirement home with the feeling of youth at his heart. Another person might be at the retirement age but be diagnosed with many health problems which have been experienced by people who are quite older than them. Therefore, the definition of elderly is circumstantial.

In most western countries, a person is referred to as an “elderly” by 65 or more. However, This number is solely based on the retirement age and the age at which a person is qualified for social benefits. Many people would consider someone an elder when they reach at least over the age of 70. It simply depends on your point of view. In order to Understand the age terminology better, we are going to describe the most common term used to describe elderly adults.

 

Senior

The word “senior” is an excellent word to describe an older person. This word has a positive meaning. People who are considered senior are seen as experienced and respected. However, you need to be cautious with this word because someone younger than the older age might not like to be called a senior at all.

 

Senior citizen

The word “senior citizen” is usually used for retired people from work and around 60 or 65. The age of 60 or 65 is typically when an older adult is qualified to receive social assistance programs.

 

Old

Describing people as “old” can be subjective. For example, an 8-year-old might assume a 20-year-old is old. In general, the term “old” is considered impolite. However,  if you want to be more neutral, you can use the word “older.”

 

Geriatric

The term ” Geriatric ” is typically used in medical care. Geriatric care is a branch of medicine. Its focus is on older adults and their health care needs. It carries connotations of the person who has a low life expectancy and is senile.

 

Who is a caregiver?

A caregiver is responsible for the health and well-being of people who need assistance with their daily life and activities. Typically, people who are injured or suffer from memory issues and illnesses need caregivers. Being a caregiver is not easy and can take a toll on the caregiver’s physical and emotional health. It depends on the level of support a caregiver provides .

 

What does a caregiver do for the elderly?

An elderly caregiver has many responsibilities. They deal with very sensitive and sometimes over-fastidious people, so they need to be extra cautious. A caregiver should:

 

Assess medical needs

Keeping track of the health of the elderly is an essential responsibility of a caregiver. A caregiver needs to keep medical appointments in check, manage medications, and assess pain levels.

 

 Prepare a care plan

A caregiver needs to prepare a care plan in order to point out the needs of an elder. A plan can help a caregiver determine how many hours of care a day an elder needs to ensure their health and safety.

 

Assist with basic needs

Activities of daily living or ADLs such as eating, bathing can be disrupted due to memory and mobility issues. A caregiver must pay attention to signs and changes to determine if an elder needs extra help.

 

Provide companionship

Feelings of loneliness in older adults often cause depression. Therefore, providing companionship is one of the essential parts of being a caregiver.

 

 Help with housekeeping

Adults may need help with doing the doing dishes, taking out the garbage, or vacuuming as they get older. So a caregiver needs to help with housekeeping as maintaining a home becomes more difficult.

 

Monitor medications

The elderly may need help keeping track of their medication list because of memory issues. Understanding drugs, giving prescribed and correct dosages at the right time, and monitoring medications are important responsibilities of caregivers.

 

Assess the care plan regularly

A care plan will need to be changed as the conditions of an elder change. A caregiver must review the care plan to determine what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to be modified.

 

Prepare meals

Aging can make food preparation difficult. Sometimes, cooking is unsafe because of memory issues. A caregiver can help with grocery shopping, preparing meals, or finding proper nutrition. Also, the eldlery might be on a particular diet or have to avoid a few types of ffo. The caregiver can prepare the right food for the seniors so as to increase their health conditions.

 

Assist with transfer and mobility

Falling down is a major danger for older adults. A caregiver can take steps to prevent falls and older adults stay safe and comfortable because they have difficulties moving or transferring.

 

Caregiver for the elderly in Las Vegas

It is a culture’s duty to take care of its elderly as they grow older. The Health & Care Professional Network provides well-trained and knowledgeable caregivers for the elderly in Las Vegas to ensure the safety of elders and seniors during their troubling times. We have provided the best of in-home care services in Las Vegas since 2006 for the elderly and seniors. For more information call us today at (702) 871-9917.

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