How to Help a Senior Relative Stay Independent

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As we get older, living independently can often become harder. Many seniors begin to require more assistance with completing everyday tasks, and some may have specialist medical needs that require the help of a professional. If you’re caring for an elderly relative and have started to notice that they are struggling more often with things that they used to do easily, then there are several things that you can do to make their life easier and help them to remain independent for as long as possible.

Move to a Senior Living Facility

Senior living complexes like Kirkwood assisted living are often an ideal choice for older people who want to be as independent as possible, since they offer the best of both worlds. Living at this kind of facility means that your relative will still have their own home and be able to take part in the activities that they enjoy, while having access to assistance whenever they might need it.

Adapting the Home

If your relative is not quite ready to move out of their current home then there are several adaptations that can be made to make things easier for them. Having the home adapted so that it better suits their needs might be an ideal way to help them stay independent for longer. The sad truth is that many properties are not ideal for older people who might have mobility issues or medical problems that make it harder for them to get around. Changes to the home like installing a bathroom on the ground floor, replacing an existing shower with a walk-in tub, or having a stair lift fitted to make it easier for them to get up to the top floors can make all the difference.

Home Assistance

Most of us want to make sure that our relatives are getting the best possible care when they need it. However, it is not always possible to be there for them in person when they need it due to our own commitments like work and family. Hiring home help could be an ideal way for you to get peace of mind and make sure that your senior relative is getting the assistance they need on a day-to-day basis. Home caregivers can help with anything from preparing meals to going out and running errands or just simply being somebody to talk to.

Mobility Tools

For people who would normally be quite active and are used to spending their time out and about doing things, getting older can be quite frustrating if it brings mobility issues along with it. For example, many seniors may struggle to drive safely due to medical issues which can leave them feeling like they have lost their independence. In this case, it might be worth investing in some mobility tools like an electric wheelchair that can help them get around and keep up their normal level of activity safely.

For many seniors, it’s important to them that they stay as independence as possible for as long as possible. If you are concerned that a loved one might be struggling more, there are several things that you can do to help.