Setting elder care goals can help you protect your loved one’s physical, emotional, and mental health and well-being.
Setting realistic goals in order to set regular routines can help both you and your loved one cope with the realities of aging and ensure that they are not only safe, but happy and healthy in the future. It all starts with evaluating your loved one’s unique needs and matching them to elder care options available near you. Learning more about the elder care services available to you in Little Rock can help you both when it comes time to setting and achieving your goals successfully.
Environmental Safety
A careful review of your loved one’s home environment may reveal potential fall hazards and other risks that exist. It’s important to set goals that prevent avoidable home accidents that could cause a significant injury. You can review some of the most common home safety hazards for seniors and focus on providing adaptive materials for your loved one. For a thorough assessment, you can also set up a home safety review by an independent living services professional to improve your loved one’s comfort and safety.
Health and Wellness
If your parent or loved one is dealing with chronic or acute health conditions, you likely already have a medical team in place to address those conditions. However, it can be very easy to overlook overall wellness and oral care in the face of more urgent medical challenges. Planning ahead for important visits to the eye doctor and dentist allows you to keep your loved one on a healthy, regular schedule.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, caregivers play a key role in senior dental health. Seniors with a regular plan of oral care and regular wellness visits experience less tooth pain and loss. Creating a plan for oral health can preserve your loved one’s ability to eat and enjoy food while preventing painful conditions from developing. Make it a goal to consult with your loved one’s health care team about ways to implement healthy eating practices and personal care routines.
Exercise and Activity
Regular exercise allows older adults to stay fit, limber, and active. This helps your loved one retaining the skills needed to perform typical daily tasks from putting on shoes to rising out of a chair with ease. Setting exercise goals can help keep your loved one engaged and proactive. If your loved one has mobility issues, now is the time to review options in your community for more hands-on independent living care so they get more help around the house.
When planning your loved one’s activity goals, the activities should suit your loved one’s interests and physical abilities; a regular activity in a group setting can also provide valuable social interaction and engagement needed for emotional health. The most important component of an exercise plan is consistency, so make sure that any goal you set is truly possible and that your loved one has the transportation needed to get to the activity on a regular basis.
From water aerobics to chair yoga, classes designed specifically for seniors allow your loved one to build strength and stamina without the risk of injury. Even homebound seniors can perform gentle stretching and strength exercises with assistance and reap the benefits of regular physical activity.
Emotional Health
It is easy to overlook your loved one’s emotional well-being and happiness when you are also covering their other needs. But scheduling regular outings or visits with friends, encouraging interaction with other family members, and utilizing elder care services in the area can help everyone stay goal-oriented.
Whether it’s setting up monthly outings or weekly visits, this social time contributes to your loved one’s overall emotional and mental well-being, while allowing you the opportunity to take time for yourself. Don’t forget that your emotional health is important, too!
If you are caring for an elderly loved one and would like to learn more about elder care services in Little Rock, contact Integrity, Inc. at 501-406-0442. We can help you set supportive goals for your loved one and determine the right care plan.
