WebMD offers tips for taking care of your aging parents, from helping with doctor visits to helping them eat well.
When caring for an older adult, it's important not to overlook routine care -- stuff that seems obvious but that may not be on your radar. Here is a rundown of what to keep in mind.
Know your mother's baseline -- what's"normal" for them. Some older adults have a lower normal body temperature than 98.6 degrees Farenheit, and others have had chronic problems throughout their lives. Be familiar with Mom's"default setting," and be aware of changes. Know that baselines change as a person ages. If, for instance, they go through surgery, chances are they will come out of it with a new baseline.
Free dental care is available from local dental schools, and often, a low income is not even a requirement. Contact the dental college in your area.If your loved one is running a temperature or experiencing any other condition that may require a doctor's care, keep hourly notes and temperature readings for later reference.Keep plenty of moisturizer around. Dry, chapped hands are especially common in winter.
The older you get, the more you are affected by alcohol. On the other hand, a glass of wine now and then has been known to be beneficial for the. Check with your loved one's doctor for a good rule of thumb. In the meantime, locate some"zero-proof" recipes and dress them up -- tiny umbrellas and all -- for a special or even not-so-special occasion.
Would a small refrigerator or a mini microwave in the bedroom or family room make it easier for Dad to have nutritious snacks all day long? Fax a weekly shopping list to your parent's local market and ask for it to be delivered. You can even pay for it over the phone with your credit card. If asked, the grocer might break up packages to sell smaller quantities to your parent, like a half-dozen eggs, two potatoes, or just a few slices of bread .
"We usually have dinner with my grandmother on Sunday nights. It's nice, but sometimes she can go on autopilot, where instead of having a conversation, she just has a long monologue, a riff on everything. You can't get a word in edgewise. That can be frustrating, but as my father pointed out, she spends a lot of her week alone, bottling up thoughts and ideas, and so when she gets a chance to unload, she needs to let it all out.
Make sure that your parent or grandparent has access to lots of healthy, easy-to-eat snacks, such as berries, bagels, pitas, cheese, raisins, crackers, energy bars, or apple, melon, or orange slices. If your parent has vision problems, use the"clock" method of serving food: the main dish is right in front of them at"six o'clock," the starch dish is farthest and directly opposite at"twelve o'clock," and so on. Soft and pureed foods don't have to be bland and tasteless. Find out which herbs and spices make an otherwise bland dish interesting.
Plan your mother's weekly menu ahead of time so shopping for all meals can be done at once. Copy their recipes onto cards and write the shopping list for each dish on the backs. Take the cards with you when you go shopping. You can get someone to come to the house just to feed meals to your parent. Contact your Area Agency on Aging.
If Dad can't fall asleep within fifteen minutes of getting into bed, suggest them to get up for a while and do something calming, and then try again later. Avoid caffeine, not just in the evening but at any time of day. Aside from coffee, tea, and cola, look out for caffeine in chocolate, non-cola soft drinks, and some pain relievers. And while decaffeinated coffee has less caffeine than regular, it's not caffeine-free.
Get dark-lined shades for people who don't sleep well, and block out disturbing noise with a fan or a white noise machine. Some models have a choice of sounds that mimic ocean waves, the patter of raindrops, and other soothing sounds. Create a sleep ritual before bedtime and follow this every evening. If you live far away, you can still call at bedtime to wish your parents sweet dreams.Restless leg syndrome is a condition in which one leg or both legs experience nervous sensations that cause excessive movement. It's a fairly common condition that can often be treated with medication, iron supplements, and exercise. Is this what's keeping your loved one awake? Find out more online and talk to your doctor.
While it may be tempting to take naps, they should be avoided if they interfere with getting a good night's sleep. Use visualization techniques to picture yourself in a perfect, relaxing place, such as a quiet beach or lakeside. Rotate a new mattress once a month the first year and every season after that. A mattress should be replaced every eight to ten years.
If your mother grinds their teeth at night -- a common condition called bruxism -- talk to the dentist. Mom might need a mouth guard. Make your own exercise video for your mother. They might hate the idea of staring at a nubile twenty-something while they do their stretching exercises, but what if, instead, they had an image of you or their granddaughter guiding them through the routine? If you own a video camera, don't pass up this opportunity to make each day more special for them.
Things change. From time to time, review your loved one's exercise routine to make sure it's still appropriate.Check with a doctor or physical therapist before your loved one embarks on any exercise routine. If your father refuses to exercise, try to get them to at least work on one of the important muscle groups: arms, legs, shoulders, or back.
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