When a family makes the decision to take care of an elderly loved one, they assume a huge responsibility. Lots of families prefer this option as opposed to moving the relative to an assisted living facility or nursing home. Reasons for the decision to provide home care could include lack of finances for other care or fear that the loved one will not be cared for properly.
Determining the Best Living Arrangements
There are a number of things to consider before moving elderly relatives into the family home. Their mental awareness, physical limitations and medicinal needs must be understood among other things. If the loved one has chronic health problems or is sick, special attention must be given to their needs. Attending doctor appointments with them is the best way to keep informed of the type of care they need.
Problems Can Occur
When taking care of an elderly loved one, obstacles can arise at any time. The goal of any caregiver should be to make the situation as comfortable and stress-free as possible for the relative, but that can be challenging at times. Issues may come up that take more consideration and patience from caregivers.
Hygiene is an area where conflict can occur with an aging senior. Elderly people can lose an interest in hygiene due to depression, memory problems, or fear of water among other reasons. Sometimes they may just feel that the clothes they are wearing are not dirty, so they won’t change them. Some have a difficult time getting dressed by themselves, so they don’t want to go through the hassle.
Alternative Clothing Options
Silvert’s is a company that has been providing adaptive clothing for elderly and disabled individuals for over 80 years. Adaptive clothing items available for purchase by phone and online at www.silverts.com include front open blouses, side opening pants, wrap round skirts with velcro fasteners, wheelchair pants than can be put on in while sitting, open back blouses, open back sweaters, open back Polo shirts for men, slip resistant wide slippers with velcro fasteners, and Easy Touch Closure shoes for men. Skid and slip resistant socks as well as diabetic socks are available as well. Silvert’s has underwear, sportswear, accessories and footwear for men and women. All of these products are available to all senior adults, not just residents of assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
Be Respectful of Older Family Members
Elderly seniors should be allowed to keep as much of their independence and dignity as possible during the remainder of their lives. They shouldn’t be made to feel incompetent or incapable of doing anything for themselves. Wearing adaptive clothing is one way to accomplish this. The ease of putting on and taking off adaptive clothes can make them feel like they can still accomplish at least some daily tasks fairly easily even if they need assistance from time to time.
Whether taking care of aging family members in your own home, in their home, or moving them to another facility, one of the most important things to do is consider their thoughts and feelings. Silvert’s has so many clothing and accessory options for senior adults that the process of getting dressed and undressed becomes one less problem they have to deal with on a daily basis. For those who are reluctant to bathe or change clothes because of dressing difficulties, adaptive clothing could be something that will make a big difference in the quality of their lives.
