Seeing a senior relative begin struggling with their health can be incredibly difficult, especially if this was someone who has shown you a great deal of love and care throughout your life.
However, this also puts you in the privileged position to be able to give back to that person by taking on a caring role in their lives. With that in mind, here are some simple yet effective ways in which you can support a senior relative through health struggles.
Know what to look out for
As we get older, the chances of encountering specific health struggles, such as dementia, increase. Fortunately, knowing what to look out for ahead of time means that you can ensure they receive medical attention as quickly as possible. This minimises the impact that this will have on their life moving forward.
In the case of dementia and other memory-related conditions, you should look out for sudden or unexpected personality and behaviour changes, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating.
Find them a new place to call home
If your loved one is dealing with a complex health condition, then moving into an Assisted Living facility is highly recommended. This is because it means that they can receive access to more immediate care and assistance in an emergency, while also receiving daily care and support. You can make this process a little easier on your loved one by helping them choose which space to move into and touring facilities with them ahead of time.
Don’t wait for them to ask for help
Various studies have found that elderly individuals are often very reluctant to ask for help, even when they may need it desperately. There are a few different reasons for this. For example, they may not want to become a burden on those around them, or simply be unwilling to admit they have a problem. For this reason, you should not wait for them to ask for help. Simply start helping them.
Furthermore, there are a few different ways in which you can provide them with ‘subtle’ help and assistance. For example, when stopping by their home, you could bring some batch-cooked meals to stock up their fridge or freezer with, so that they have to spend less time on their feet in the kitchen.
Do your research
If your loved one has been diagnosed with a specific health condition, researching this in a little more detail puts you in the best position to support them moving forward. This is because you’ll better understand the journey ahead and the specific challenges they are facing. You may also want to accompany them to doctors’ appointments, so that you can discuss their care plan in more detail with their healthcare provider or answer any questions that you may have.
Final thoughts
While it can be difficult to see someone you love feeling unwell, there are plenty of steps that you can take to support them. This means that they will not feel alone in their journey, as you are with them every step of the way.
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