There are several reasons you may have chosen to go with in-home senior care for your loved one. Regardless of the reason for your choice, you may be concerned about how to make the transition to this type of care easier on you as well as your loved one. Here are a few tips on how to prepare for the transition and ways that can make ongoing care easier.
Set Up a Hygiene Station
One of the services that an in-home senior care group will provide is hygiene care. They will likely offer your loved one a bath or shower, if your loved one can walk. They may also offer denture care as well as help with dressing for the day or evening. You can make this easier by having a station set up near your loved ones bedside or in the bathroom. This station should have fresh towels, bath clothes, water basins for clean and dirty water, and any lotions or soaps your loved one uses. This saves time because everything is nearby and you don't have to hunt for it.
Take a Break
You may not think that taking a break from being a caregiver is a way to prepare for in-home senior care. The truth is, you have likely been a caregiver for a long time. You also likely hired the senior care group to give you a break and help with things that were either harder for you to do or becoming overwhelming. When the nurse or caregiver arrives, allow them the space to do their job. Take a break and rejuvenate yourself so you can continue to care for your loved one. This also helps the caregiver because they are given the space they need to totally concentrate on your loved one and help with their health care and healing.
Discuss Care Plans
Though the senior care company will already know the care plan for your loved one, you should take the time to discuss the care plan with the caregiver. This is a step to reinforce what your loved one needs, things the caregiver needs to know about your loved ones daily life, and how to best communicate with your loved one. This step is vital to preparing you, your loved one, and the caregiver for the transition into home health care that you are looking for.
By taking these steps you can ensure that you are prepared for the first day of in-home senior care. You can also ensure that your loved one has an easier transition from your care as a loved one to a professional care team provided by the senior care group you choose. If you still have concerns about in-home senior care, discuss them with the health care team or senior care representative. They can answer all your questions and help you with the transition process.
