Since ancient times, people have been searching for the secret of eternal youth. And although the latest advances in medicine can prolong life for many years, a magical remedy has not yet been invented. Sooner or later, the moment comes when the years take their toll, and our elderly relatives, who once took care of us, themselves begin to need maintenance and care.
Features of care for the elderly
Caring for the elderly is a complicated and very serious matter. It requires endurance, patience, and the ability to find contact with a person. Alas, with age, the character does not change for the better. An elderly person, tired of feeling unwell and lonely, hardly controls his mood. Often such people become withdrawn, overly touchy, and suspicious; among them, there is a huge percentage of patients with depression. Therefore, a person devoted to caring for the elderly must be a subtle psychologist with stress resistance and endurance.
However, this is not enough. A person who decides to take on the functions of a nurse must be physically strong, know everything about caring for bedridden patients, properly prepare special dietary food, have the skills to carry out all the necessary hygiene procedures, etc.
In addition, like small children, older people require attention around the clock – often, age-related changes and illnesses make them entirely helpless. And young relatives are torn between the need to equip their own lives and help an elderly person. Such assistance is not temporary but indefinite – if children become more and more independent over the years, then in old age, the opposite is true. When your loved ones need special care, you should be prepared that the situation will not improve and more and more effort, time, and attention will be required over time. This is a very difficult situation, and the most effective and optimal solution for all its participants is to entrust the care of older professionals to professionals.
Professional care services for the elderly
In the organization of care for the elderly, there are two approaches – a visiting nurse or a specialized boarding house. Both options have advantages and disadvantages.
Home health aide
A visiting nurse is, as a rule, a qualified nurse who has received special training and knows all the intricacies of caring for the elderly. This is not an easy profession. Only those who have education or home health aide training near me and special personal qualities take root in it: patience, diligence, a sense of humor, compassion, and sincerity. This combination is rare; therefore, there are not so many really good hha.
Carers can be visiting (with hourly pay) or living with the family permanently (with a fixed payment for a certain period).
- Advantages. The advantage of patronage services lies in their flexibility – the customer pays for as many hours of the nurse’s work as he needs. The nurse comes to the house, meaning the patient does not need to move anywhere. This can be a significant plus – many older people are categorically against any major changes, especially a change of residence. And the family does not have to part with a relative.
- Flaws. Many people feel uncomfortable when a stranger is constantly present in their house, and the nurse will have to spend a lot of time in their apartment. However, this problem does not matter if the elderly relative lives separately.
You need to be prepared for the fact that, for some reason, a carefully selected nurse may not be suitable for you, or she will not build a relationship with the patient, and then the whole search process will have to start all over again.
And finally, the most essential difficulty is the issue of trust. You must have absolute confidence in the nurse – in her honesty, conscientiousness, and professionalism – this is a person who will spend maximum time one-on-one with a helpless person, and often no one will control his work. Certain (but not one hundred percent) guarantees give good recommendations and the selection of a nurse through a specialized agency, whose duties include checking all employees.
Private retirement homes
Private retirement homes also provide elderly care services. A modern boarding house is a kind of comfortable hotel. Typically, such institutions are located in green and quiet places outside or in the city.
Private retirement homes provide more than just accommodation and care. The staff has on the spot cpr training and is specially equipped for older people with disabilities and offers a wide range of social and medical services. In addition, the guests of boarding houses can return to society again. The isolation of older people from society is a very acute problem because longing and loneliness deplete vitality faster than any illness. In private nursing homes, people can socialize and have fun.
In Western countries, the system of boarding houses for the elderly is very developed. In the USA, the bill goes to tens of thousands, and any European state has at least several thousand comfortable institutions for the elderly.
- Advantages. Boarding houses have the necessary sophisticated equipment, which is impossible to install at home: ramps for wheelchairs, handrails, etc. A nurse can only provide life support and essential comfort. In boarding houses, much attention is paid to improving the quality of life: chefs develop a healthy and varied menu, and a peer society allows the guest to feel like a full-fledged person again.
- Private retirement homes allow you to choose a flexible program designed for any needs and possibilities of clients. The stay can be limited to a few days, weeks, or months, and permanent residence can be arranged.
- The advantage of retirement houses is also that the staff in them is usually large enough, and you can find a nurse that he likes for each guest.
Flaws. In the last ten years, private boarding houses for the elderly have been gaining popularity, new establishments are regularly opening, and the choice is already quite wide today. Therefore, to find the perfect place for your family, you will have to spend some time. You should not choose a boarding house, limited only to viewing the site. Be sure to come to the place, see everything with your own eyes, talk with the staff and, if possible, with other guests.
