Taking Care of Mom or Grandma Requires More Than Luck!

As your parents or grandparents age, you start to notice things like they’re slowing down and don’t seem to be quit as sharp as they used to be. Once thoughts of them – and your worries – are running through your mind often, it’s time to begin planning.

Moving into the role of caregiver requires thought and preparation – for both you! If you rely on luck and count on things “just working out,” you’re going to be disappointed – and stressed.

Take into consideration whether you have to provide assistance in some of these areas:

1. Meals and nutrition – Can your loved one plan, shop for and prepare healthy meals?
2. Medications – Can your loved one manage filling prescriptions and take them on schedule?
3. Security – Is your loved one vulnerable to fraud or intruders in their home and neighborhood?
4. Safety – Is lighting sufficient for your loved one to move easily? What about trip hazards and hand grips or rails?
5. Personal hygiene – Is your loved one able to bathe and groom herself? And does she?
6. Housekeeping – Does your loved one keep a neat and clean house? Is vacuuming and sweeping done? Are cleaning supplies capped and used properly?
7. Emotional outlook – Does your loved one spend a great deal of time alone? Is he lonely? What about depression? Does he look at what he can no longer do as a sign of weakness?
8. Financial matters – How does your loved one manage the banking and bills? Does she have sufficient income?
9. Insurance matters – What kind of health insurance does your loved one carry? Is he able to file claims, check bills and deal with discrepancies?
10. Driving and transportation – What will happen when the next drivers license renewal arrives? Is it safe for her to drive and how will she respond if it is not. More importantly, how will she get from home to all the places she goes? How will that affect her social life?
11. Socialization – Is the calendar full for your loved one with friends and activities? How are your loved ones affected by the loss of friends and neighbors who move or die?

Caregiving includes every aspect of a senior’s life and this is just a list for starters. Knowing that they are dependent on someone else for so many things makes some seniors angry and difficult.

When you find you need to step into that role, it’s a challenge, especially when you have a family of your own and perhaps a job, too. That’s why you can’t leave it to luck – start taking steps to put a plan in place.

One of the first things you can do is realize you don’t have to do it alone. Keeping in Touch Solutions is one way to alleviate a bit of the weight on your shoulders. Our Care Callers make a daily call to your loved one – to check in, to chat, to remind them to eat and take their medications. That daily call does something for you, too. It gives you a little peace of mind, knowing you will be notified immediately if something is amiss.

A daily check-in call could be the lifeline, the joy you give someone that makes the biggest difference in their perception of what old age is like.

Contact me at 317-480-1038 today. Let’s make a difference together.

I’m Diana Beam, Founder of Keeping in Touch Solutions. It is my heartfelt desire for every person to live a happy and healthy life in the place they call home, no matter what their age. You can’t put a price on peace of mind for your parents and yourself. It’s priceless . . . and significant.

For that reason, the goal of every Keeping In Touch Solutions program is to provide a caring connection and service that both the elderly and their caregivers can rely on to make living that good life easier.