Medication Management

 Making the right decisions about home care services for a loved one is a balancing act. How can you help a family friend with progressive ill-health to remain as independent as possible, when their condition (such as Alzheimer’s or other dementia) means they are getting increasingly forgetful and are on the verge of needing full-time care to keep them safe? This guide considers how to make home care decisions that allow someone to remain independent while also meeting their needs. Understanding the Balance Between Independence and Support  Independence: Keeping as much independence as possible is an important way in which people feel a continued sense of worth and can enjoy their lives. This often means being able to continue to do things for yourself, make choices, and participate in social and recreational activities.  Image courtesy of Acorn Stock/ShutterstockWhat is support? According to our theory, a person’s need for support arises either when their ability to achieve their individualized goals is compromised, or when the everyday level of organizational control is reduced below that with which they are familiar. Thus, support can be delivered through three modes: physical support (ie, help with activities of daily living [ADLs]), emotional support, and behavioral (ie, initiative) support. Key Considerations for Balancing Independence and Support 1. Assessing Needs and Abilities A. Comprehensive Assessment B. Involvement in Decision-Making 2. Developing a Personalized Care Plan A. Tailored Support B. Goal Setting 3. Choosing the Right Type of Home Care A. In-Home Personal Care B. Home Health Care C. Respite Care  Respite care: When a family caregiver needs a break, they might consider respite care so that their care recipient has a chance to thrive in a temporary environment. Implementing and Managing Home Care Services 1. Finding and Evaluating Care Providers A. Research and Selection B. Communication and Collaboration 2. Monitoring and Adjusting the Care Plan A. Regular Reassessments B. Adjustments and Adaptations What are the common challenges faced by elderly individuals when making care decisions?  As people get older they might face all or some of the following challenges when having to make care decisions, which in turn can affect their capacity to decide where their interests lie in terms of their health and wellbeing. Those outlined below were some of the more common issues revealed by a search of page headlines and subheadings.  1. Low Health Literacy  Although seniors generally have lower health literacy than other age groups, such limitations profoundly impact a senior’s comprehension of health information, potentially worsening their ability to process and communicate information about their illness or condition. These considerations can significantly influence how well seniors can engage in making informed decisions about their care. 2. Cognitive Impairments  Cognitive impairment, which is common in old age, can also affect decisional capacity. For example, seniors with dementia or other such issues can struggle to consider options or remember details about their care. 3. Generational Attitudes  Some older adults become resigned to their situation, believing that ‘doctor knows best.’ Maybe they always have, and they trust the doctor to advise them on all the details – or perhaps, for various reasons, they simply lack confidence in their ability to know the right answers. Then there is straight-out anxiety: they might be fearful that, if the choice is up to me, I will become so worried that I can never make a good choice. 4. Emotional Factors  Similar to other ethnic/minority populations, anxiety and fear about outcomes make many seniors feel overwhelmed triggering avoidance of decisionmaking, or our tendency to let cast caregivers or family members make decisions for us, adding another layer of emotions to the decision at hand. 5. Complex Health Conditions  Despite a range of supplements, diet manipulation, and consultation with traditional Chinese practitioners, the father declined until dementia became more advanced The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions among seniors means that care decisions are typically occurring within the backdrop of decisional conflict. The confounding effect of considerable treatment options for multiple health problems is likely to be more pronounced in this scenario. 6. Financial Constraints  For seniors, the anxiety over the financial aspects of care decisions looms large. The cost of care, often affected by the need for more or special medications, treating an injury or illness, and modifications to their homes adds to their worries, which may influence their decisions regarding care needs. Couple this anxiety with retirement savings that might be inadequate to cover the cost of even assisted living or nursing home care, many seniors need to carefully weigh the cost and quality benefit of their care decisions and often find themselves in compromises. 7. Trust and Relationship Dynamics  A good relationship based on trust between the person who has become old and their child-care workers or healthcare providers is necessary for mutual understanding. Negative stereotypes and a lack of understanding of the real person’s situation can hinder this relationship, such that the person who has become old may be more likely to hold back discussing their concrete preferences and needs. 8. Social and Cultural Influences  Even cultural perceptions of aging and norms around being old in society can play a role in decision-making. What if seniors feel unduly pressured to accept what is seen as normative care when they wish to assert independence and autonomy?  In providing home care, including to those with Alzheimer’s, it is important to strike the right balance between independence and support. This is an art form that requires sensitive decision-making and planning, including needs assessment, development of a meaningful care plan, selection of meaningful services, monitoring, and periodic adjustment of care. With this, home and aged-care services can empower persons with Alzheimer’s to live in their homes for as long as possible, or as long as they desire, with the appropriate amount of support.   Good home care, in other words, honors their intended activity and direction, respects their goals and desired quality of life, and enables them in ways that enrich their humanity. With careful planning and frequent communication, it is

 Because of the needs and abilities of senior citizens, elderly loved ones should also be provided with a safe and comfortable home environment where they can live their lives with ease. As someone ages, the way they move about in their house could be affected and that could make their life harder, both physically and mentally. So having a safe environment for them in a home is important. This article will help you prepare the home that your elderly loved one lives in so that it is more safe and comfortable. 1. Assess and Modify the Living Space 2. Make the Bathroom Safe 3. Optimize Bedroom Comfort 4. Enhance Kitchen Safety 5. Address Mobility and Accessibility Needs 6. Ensure Safety with Technology 7. Promote a Comfortable Living Environment 8. Foster Social Interaction and Engagement 9. Regular Maintenance and Safety Checks 10. Consider Professional Assistance What are the most effective exercise programs to improve balance and strength in seniors?  Balance and strength exercises are two types of exercises that are highly recommended for elders. As a personal trainer, it is advisable to recommend some of the below exercise programs to improve the elders’ conditions: Balance Exercises Strength Training Recommendations  Improving the environment of your elderly loved one at home can help ensure they enjoy a better quality of life and live out their days in comfort and safety. To maximize improvement, ask yourself the right questions and focus on some thoughtful details. Take a moment to read through the questions and consider them about your family members. Keep them in mind as you modify the home environment to ensure everything you do (and pay for) contributes to an improved life.  Finally, your goal is to make space that allows an independent and healthy lifestyle, as well as a comfortable and safe feel. Adjustments and support enable your elderly loved one to remain in their home with a good quality of life.