What to expect from senior caregivers in old age homes
With an increasing number of aged people in many societies across the world, there is an emerging need for senior caregivers. A caregiver helps elderly people manage their daily activities, such as hygiene and medication. Over and above helping aged people, a caregiver also aids people suffering from some kind of disability, disease, or mental disorder. Due to the increasing demand for senior caregiving services, the domain is becoming an important part of the world economy. The following section highlights the basic obligations that a senior caregiver is bound to.
Help in managing medications
Most aged people have medications that need to be followed for keeping them in the best of health. A senior caregiver needs to take care of this and help the person receiving care to take medicines on time. Medication might vary from taking pills and liquid medicines to having injections at specified intervals.
Keep the person mentally alert
Mental alertness is of utmost concern in aged people. As there is an indispensable relation between physical activity and mental health, the overall mental health status of an aged person receiving care can be uplifted with some form of physical activity. Such activities might include, but are not limited to, talking a walk in the park, paying a visit to the neighborhood, meeting and having an outing with other aged people receiving care, and making friends in other age groups.
Oversee with respect
Taking care of an aged person requires staying in contact with the doctor appointed for managing their health. As per the doctor’s notice, a senior caregiver needs to monitor the aged person for body temperature, blood glucose level, blood pressure, and breathing pattern. A caregiver also needs to have a close watch on the emotions exhibited, such as unhappiness and discomfort, by the person receiving care. Overall, a senior caregiver needs to note down any unusual activity of the aged person under care and share the same with the physician.
Provide eating assistance
Senior caregivers assist the person receiving care in fulfilling all dietary conditions, ranging from recommendations of a concerned dietician to nutritional and energy needs. Fulfilling these requirements might put up a challenge, if the person receiving the diet is unhappy about the diet. This can be managed by arranging meals that the person loves, but substituting all the unhealthy ingredients with the healthiest options possible. Elderly people are less likely to recognize the need of water and hence, should be offered drinking water at regular intervals.
Taking care of elderly people is not just another form of employment; it is a devotion and way to display respect towards the most experienced people in our society.