home care for elderly – Encouraging the Elderly
Independence. We all want it. From the time a baby sees the red ball across the room and begins to crawl towards it... he is after independence. Crawl, walk, and run... it is the story of our lives.
But what happens when you cannot walk anymore? Or run? What happens when you loose the ability to get to the red ball on your own? When you are confined to a wheelchair or simply unable to get out of the house on your own?
There are over 35 million senior citizens in America today. By the year 2030, that number should double. In many cases, senior citizens are caring for their own elderly parents. As we age, we have taken on the role as caregiver. As children, we are torn between between taking care of our parents and helping them to remain as independent as possible.
Independence is, by definition, the state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction of one's own affairs without interference. The loss of independence can cause one to lose hope, and possibly, the will to live.
How does a caregiver encourage independence? A few suggestions would be:
Have plenty of catalogs and mailings that provide the opportunity to order gifts, stamps, and greeting cards. These items are always needed and it is nice to be able to make your own choices.
Check with your bank to see if they have sight-impaired checks. A lot of times, these are provided free of charge. Encourage your loved one to keep up with their finances as long as possible. We all like to know exactly where our money is going!
And speaking of finances, if the person you are caring for lives with you and wants to help out with the household expenses, let them! Even if the money is not needed, place it in a savings account. Let them feel like they are "earning their keep"!
If they are able and willing, let them help out with the chores around the house. Sitting on the couch folding clothes or unloading the dishwasher can help make an elderly person feel like they're needed.
With a little thought, you can help the person you are caring for feel loved and appreciated, and most of all, useful. And independent! As Abraham Lincoln said, "... and in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Kevin Stanley
Select2Send
http://www.select2send.com
At Select2Send, we know how hard it is for those of you who are caretakers. We realize that if you are caring for a loved one who is home bound, your life is filled with stress. Select2Send is a unique, simple way to relieve some of that stress and also to offer to your loved one the opportunity to make choices of their own.
We understand how hectic life is these days. That is why anyone can use this service. From a busy professional, who does not have time to shop... to a caregiver, who is just looking to lighten the load. Select2Send will help your aging or disabled parent regain some independence. It will give you, the caretaker, time. Time to spend with the ones you love.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Stanley
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