You’re a caregiver and you want to help your senior family member, but you don’t know where to start. The medical world is complex and confusing. It’s important for anyone who wants to be an effective helper in their senior loved one’s life to understand the basics of healthcare and its terminology. In this article.

Helping Your Senior Family Member, Helping Your Senior Family Member, Days of a Domestic Dad

Helping Your Senior Family Member

We will go over some common ailments that seniors face as they age and we’ll talk about what medical aids would work best for them based on those conditions!

Wheelchairs and walkers

As your senior loved one’s condition worsens, they may become less and less able to walk on their own. If this is the case, you should consider getting them a wheelchair or help them figure out which type of walker will work best for their needs – there are three types! 

There are traditional four-wheelers (think about what it looks like when kids go down slides at playgrounds), rolling walkers (the frame resembles that of a shopping cart), and standing wheelchairs (they don’t move but they allow seniors who cannot sit for long periods to do so comfortably). Of course, if you are looking for top lightweight wheelchairs make sure that the person you are buying them for can actually use the chair. Also, be aware that wheelchairs are not the only way to help seniors get around. You can also consider getting them a scooter or using an alternative mode of transportation like transit (the bus, subway, etc.) if it works better for their needs.

Home health aides

If your senior loved one is struggling with a medical condition that makes it difficult for them to go about their normal daily activities, you may need to hire a home health aide. The type of healthcare professional who comes into the house will depend on what exactly your family member needs help with.  You should also find out whether your home health care is covered by Medicare or private insurance. 

For instance, if they are dealing with arthritis and have difficulty getting around the house alone, you should look for an aide who can do things like cooking and cleaning but also has experience caring for those suffering from arthritis as well as other diseases or ailments that affect movement. 

On the other hand, if your father lives in New York City and he’s been diagnosed with Type II diabetes, then you might be looking for someone who specializes in helping people manage this disease.

That being said, having a loved one diagnosed with a chronic condition like Type II diabetes can indeed be overwhelming. You may need someone who understands their specific needs, including diet control, medication management, and regular medical checkups. It’s about ensuring they live a comfortable, dignified life while managing their condition. To that end, you might want to consider options like senior assisted living.

Medical alert systems

If your loved one lives alone and has fallen recently, you might consider getting them a medical alert system. This is an alarm that they wear around their neck or wrist (or clip onto belt loops) at all times. If they fall down while by themselves and cannot get up on their own, the emergency response team will be notified immediately so that help can arrive as soon as possible.

These devices come in various forms, but the main goal is always the same: connect individuals who cannot move by themselves to medical professionals so that they can receive proper care.

Bathroom safety products 

As we age, our bodies change and this can leave us feeling unsteady on our feet. This leaves many seniors vulnerable to falls that cause serious injuries like broken bones or head injuries. In order to prevent these accidents from happening, you may want to consider getting your loved one some bathroom safety products such as non-slip mats for the shower floor and sturdy grab bars in the tub so they have something to hold onto while they are cleaning themselves off after a bath or taking care of their business when using the toilet.

Pill reminder devices

Seniors often have a difficult time remembering whether or not they’ve already taken their medication for the day. This can lead to serious medical problems if certain medications need to be ingested at specific times of the day and your loved one’s routine is thrown off by forgetting about this important step. Fortunately, there are pill reminder devices that will do all of this work for you so it doesn’t fall on deaf ears (so to speak).

Aids for the kitchen

If your loved one deals with arthritis, it can be difficult for them to get around the kitchen and cook a meal. In order to help them out in this regard, you may want to look into getting an aid that will make cooking easier on their joints. There are tools like jar openers that grip things so they can easily twist lids off of jars without hurting themselves too much.

When you are helping your senior family member, it is important to keep in mind the different medical aids that may be needed.

We hope that this article has helped you get a better idea of what these are and how they can make life easier for your loved one.