How to Look After Ageing Relatives Later in Life

how to look after ageing relatives

By Patrick Vernon – 

With improvements in medical technology, raised living standards and better access to healthcare many older relatives will hope to lead long and happy lives, enjoying themselves with a range of new interests and activities. Poor health can change these plans unexpectedly.

Talk to your relatives

In order to provide optimum care for your relatives it’s important to be realistic about some of the problems associated with ageing and talk to your family members about their hopes and concerns should they become affected by ill health. Discussions about house modifications are a good idea, and you could always click here to discover the addition of wheels to stationary pieces of furniture in order to help your relative and any potential carers in the future.

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Have fun

As the baby boomer generation reaches their 60s and 70s, and those who participated in the Second World War are reaching their 80s/90s there is a growing awareness that these people lived their lives to the full. Listening is as important as talking for anyone who is caring for this demographic. If you take time to compile favorite music choices or albums of photographs with your relative, you will be helping them relive their glory days and ward off feelings of despondency and despair. This process is proven to help those with dementia or Alzheimer’s and you may even find it interesting too.

Assess the problems

If your relative has been diagnosed with a condition that’s going to affect their independence, or you feel that they need help as a result of a culmination of aging problems, talk. According to The Guardian depression as well as mobility problems are major problems in the old. Try and arrange a rota among other family members to pop in and ensure your relative’s well-being. 

Also you should see if you can apply for bathroom aids, rails and other indispensable items from your local authority. Social care is in the news almost every day. If you are having problems accessing help to aid your relative’s independence then now’s the time to become authoritative; click here and view your options.

Relate to your relatives

Never patronise a relative who is suffering from mobility problems or mental health issues. It’s hard to keep up a veneer of happiness when you might be in silent anguish about the onset of problems affecting a beloved grandparent. Seek out the help from a local carers’ support group. Mixing with people who are going through the same problems as you could prove to be a lifeline. Carers UK offers a widespread range of solutions, or simply someone at the end of the ‘phone when things appear insurmountable.

Getting old needn’t be a natural process to fear. If you are a younger care-giver then simply remember that you too will be in the same position as your older relative in the future. Once you keep that thought in mind, then enjoy the journey caring for your older relative.

 

Patrick Vernon is a freelance writer, with experience writing for a range of magazines and websites, researching various topics in order to offer useful info and content to the public.

 

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How to Look After Ageing Relatives Later in Life
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