Columbia Aged Care

Creating a safe and comfortable home is a simple way to help reduce stress on you and your loved one. Not only will this improve their quality of life, it will also reduce the chances of your loved one becoming injured, anxious or confused. 

Caregiver.com has provided some simple tips to ensure that your loved one feels secure, comfortable and content.

Buy a small lightweight jug
Store the jug in a convenient place and keep it filled at all times. Reminding your loved one to keep hydrated can ward off a number of problems associated with dehydration such as headaches and sleepiness and is great for health and wellbeing.

Avoid lots of mirrors
Your loved one’s memory may start to become affected, and if this happens you may need to prevent your loved one from seeing their reflection. Mirrors can be confusing as your loved one might not recognise their own reflection.

Use large dials or number pads
If your loved one enjoys watching television, ensure the remote has large buttons to make it much easier to use. Installing digital clocks might make it easier for your loved one to read the time if analogue clocks are confusing or frustrating for your loved one.

Clothing
If you buy your loved one’s clothing, keep it simple and basic, this will make it easier for them to pick out their outfits. Organise their wardrobe into sections i.e. skirts, pants, shirts and dresses. This will make it easier for your loved one to find a certain garment they might be looking for.

Read the full article here.

Moving your loved one into an aged care facility can be emotional and difficult, but with a little planning and consideration, the move can be made as straightforward as possible.

Kate Sumner, author of Caring for Your Elderly Parent: A practical guide for Australian families has provided some great tips on Aged Carer that will help make the move into an aged care facility easier.

• Accept and express your feelings. Both you and your loved one will have concerns about moving into an aged care facility. It’s important to express your feelings thoughtfully, and ideally not to your loved one. Listen to their feelings, but try not to let them get stuck in the negatives.
• Be patient with the staff. Remember that the staff of the aged care facility are getting to know your loved one in the first few weeks and might not get it all right straight away.
• Give your loved one and the staff a chance to get to know each other. While you may want to be by your loved one’s side in the first few days, it’s important that the staff have space to establish your loved one’s new routine, and for your loved one to get to know the staff.
• Say hello and goodbye every time. Don’t just slip out hoping not to upset your loved one as it will actually make them feel less secure. Avoid leaving all together in a big group, but do say goodbye and let them know when you’ll return.

Many families find the initial days difficult, but with care and patience you will help your loved one adjust to their new home and lifestyle.

Read the full article HERE.