Having parents or family members that are approaching old age is always a concern. We all would like to be able to care of them and make their last years as pleasant as possible. It is, however, easier said than done. With job and other responsibilities very few people have the time or means to care for an elderly person.
While some people seem to age with relative ease, most elderly people need special care. After a certain age, mobility can become a problem and assistance will be needed to do simple tasks like taking a shower or even comb their hair. Some elderly people suffer from serious medical conditions that might not require hospital care, but they might need to be monitored on a permanent basis.
While there are many facilities with permanent assistance for people that need frail care, you might not feel comfortable to send a parent or elderly family member to these facilities. Moving from a known environment at such an advanced age can be traumatic.
The alternative is to find a caregiver that will be prepared to care for the person in their own home or that of a family member or child. Caregivers for the elderly are usually trained to specifically deal with older people and their needs.
Choosing the right person for the job is extremely important and special care should be taken with this decision.
The best place to start is to get advice and help from someone who is already using a caregiver or that know someone reliable and has the right personality for the job.
If you work through an agency make sure there are references and make an effort to personally check the references. It is better to check with people that made use of the services of the caregiver for a long period of time.
To be a caregiver is not the same as being a lawyer or an accountant. The perfect caregiver will be patient, empathetic and loving, but also strict and firm. A caregiver must know what to do in an emergency and if the elderly person has some medical condition make sure the caregiver understands exactly how to handle it. If you can find a caregiver that has previously cared for someone with the same condition, it will be ideal.
While permanent caregivers can be the most expensive option, you will have the peace of mind that you are doing the best you can for your loved one.
