How Can You Start to Assess Your Senior’s Needs?
Determining what your aging adult needs and what it’s going to take in order to help her is a giant task. As her caregiver, you’ll need to break it down into steps that help you to see the whole picture.
Talk with Her Doctor
Setting up a meeting with your aging adult’s doctor can help you to understand exactly what’s going on with her health. Be sure that you ask about the immediate and longer-term future, too. The more information that you have in order to make decisions, the better.
What Types of Assistance Are Necessary
Your aging adult may need a variety of different types of assistance ranging from frequent doctor’s appointments to hospital visits, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. It may be time for your aging adult to stop driving, which means that help with transportation could become an issue now. If she’s no longer able to cook for herself, help with meal preparation or meal delivery is vital.
Look at Who Can Provide that Assistance
As your senior’s primary family caregiver, it’s possible that the bulk of what your senior needs will fall to you to carry out for her. But you’re only one person and as much as you may want to do everything yourself, that’s just not reasonable. Getting help from other family members, elderly care providers, and friends can help you to ensure that all of the bases get covered.
Determine if Home Modifications Are in Order
Depending on the needs your aging adult has, she may need some home modifications to make her home safer or more secure. Doing this properly helps her to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible, which is frequently a goal for aging adults.
Revisit the Process Periodically
This is a process you’ll need to revisit periodically as your needs change, as your senior’s needs change, and as her health changes. Setting aside time quarterly or even just a couple of times a year can help you to think through what’s changed for your aging adult and to respond accordingly.
Take a deep breath and remember to be good to yourself as you learn to be a caregiver. You’re doing something amazing for your aging adult and need to give yourself time to learn the ropes.