For seniors coping with long-term illness, home care can help.
Do you ever wake up and realize, from the time you get out of bed, that it was going to be “one of those days?” Perhaps you slept through your alarm, tripped over the cat, and then remembered you were out of milk. These small inconveniences, however, pale in comparison to what over half of all adults in the U.S. are facing every day: coping with a long-term illness or a chronic health condition.
Whether it’s diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or any one of a great many other serious and debilitating health issues, simply getting through the everyday routine can be a struggle. And not surprisingly, these challenges make it hard to maintain a positive outlook on life.
Grace Home Care’s award-winning home and dementia care in Topeka and surrounding areas is here to help in each of these areas. We provide hands-on support with all the daily tasks that can become overwhelming, together with emotional support.
Making Activities of Daily Living Easier to Manage
Think through your own day-to-day routine when you’re at home:
- A morning shower
- Cooking breakfast
- Making the bed
- Taking care of laundry
- Dusting and cleaning the house
- Fixing lunch
- Paying bills
- Running to the market along with other errands
- Organizing a closet
- Planning and making dinner
- Cleaning up again!
- Preparing for bed
Now imagine attempting to accomplish all those tasks while being impacted by the side effects of chemotherapy; or while pulling around an oxygen tank; or in the midst of cognitive decline. An in-home caregiver can help with these and other routine but necessary tasks, freeing up time and energy for the senior to relax and take part in enjoyable pastimes.
Lifting an Older Adult’s Spirits
It’s quite common for an individual battling a long-term illness to find it difficult to maintain a life of joy and to defend themselves against depression. Our caregivers provide friendly companionship that lets seniors know they are cared for. Through conversations, exercise programs, participating in interests and hobbies, and simply being there to listen when life feels discouraging, a caregiving companion brings a breath of fresh air into everyday life.
The following tips can help someone with a long-term illness to feel positive and hopeful:
- Find a sense of purpose. Having purpose in life is important to our wellbeing. It’s a matter of helping a senior loved one uncover what she or he is passionate about and pursuing that interest. Get creative in brainstorming ideas or techniques to make life more meaningful: serving others, learning something new, creating a video to document his or her history or life lessons to pass along to a future generation.
- Find reasons to be thankful. An easy but effective way to increase positivity is by journaling. Encourage the older adult to start off each day by listing several things she or he is grateful for: the scent of fresh blueberry muffins baking, the beauty of the sunrise, a planned lunch date with a friend.
- Find activities outside of the home. If possible, help the older adult enjoy life away from home: a nail or hair appointment, a shopping trip, a visit with family and friends. Even a short walk or time spent on the front porch can be helpful.
Discover More Ways Home Care Can Help
Give Grace Home Care a call any time at 785-286-2273 for more helpful tips for coping with a long-term illness or health condition. We would also love to come and meet with you in the comfort of your home to talk about additional ways that our caregivers can make every day the very best it can be for older adults at home. To learn more about our award-winning home care and caregivers and home health in Topeka, KS reach out to us today!