Relationship between the Caretaker and the Elderly

Caretaking is a challenging role with a host of responsibilities that are usually expected to be long-term. Irrespective of whether the caretaker is a family member, a close friend, a neighbour or a trained professional, he or she is expected to be adequately skilled to meet the needs of the elderly person completely. So, the caretaker must have a good and compassionate relationship with the person under care by fully understanding their dependence and independence levels.

Today, thanks to the sophisticated demands of patients and rapidly growing healthcare technology, home healthcare services  are highly popular and preferred. In particular, elderly home healthcare is a boon to the booming senior population as they can avail reliable healthcare services at the comfort of their homes without making tedious visits to hospitals.

Let us understand how this geriatric care is beneficial and also explore caretaking relationships.

Geriatric Care Importance

·     Provides a robust support system for elders whose loved ones are unavailable for assistance due to other commitments like work and extensive travel.

·    Adopts a holistic approach to meet the requirements of senior people including providing help for self-grooming, accompanying them for doctor visits, assisting in therapy and medication schedules and preparing diet charts and nutritious meals tailored to individual health conditions and preferences.

·   Enables full medical attention at homes for elders who are incapable of doing their activities independently as nursing attendants at home  are specifically trained to handle this. These attendants even help the patients by feeding them, changing their diapers, dressing the wounds, making them exercise and even take them for walks or strolls using mobility aids if needed.

·    Ensures fall prevention which can cause serious consequences like fractures, injuries, permanent injuries and even casualties. Caretakers ensure that the homes are well-organized at all times to avoid trips and falls and help elders in identifying and avoiding medications that are likely to increase the risk of falls.

·    Encourages seniors to be physically active and maintain exercise regimes and therapy schedules for their overall well-being and fitness. Caretakers supervise elders when they are doing light exercise, yoga, walking and physiotherapy. These activities improve strength, flexibility, balancing capabilities and mental health.

·    Support seniors in using assistive devices like walkers and wheelchairs for mobility, alarms and reminders for medication management and monitoring devices like glucometers and blood pressure meters to check and control the vital health parameters.

Caretaking Relationship

·   A transparent communication must be maintained between the caretaker and the senior so that there is a safe and reliable healing environment. This also encourages patients to seek help when needed without hesitation. It also helps the caretaker to better understand the requirements and seek clarifications if needed for any concern or preference expressed.

·       A substantial number of geriatric patients are severely disabled or wounded and may not have full control over their brain functions and other capabilities like memory, speech and motor skills. The caretaker must exercise extra compassion and care rather than expressing frustration and anger. This prevents the straining of relationships.

·     Many seniors who have suffered from brain injuries or trauma show poor control over their stimuli and responses. They may also exhibit dangerous behaviours or not adhere to safety rules. The caretaker must be patient and exhibit patience and sympathy in such situations.

·    In order to expedite the healing and recovery process, elders must be encouraged often with kind and positive affirmations. By doing this, the caretaker boosts the patient’s self-esteem and motivates them to be independent and capable. It also fosters a healthy relationship between the two.

·   By being an active listener, the caretaker can better understand the senior and build a better rapport. It also helps in potential warning signs about emerging health issues and apprehensions.

·  The seniors can feel more involved if the caretaker supports them in doing what they like. This decreases feelings of distress, isolation and helplessness.

Thus mutual respect and empathy foster lasting bonds and relationships in elderly care!