Tips for Helping Your Favorite Senior Stay in Great Health

Tips for Helping Your Favorite Senior Stay in Great Health

Don'T Be Afraid To Set These Rules With Your Home Health Aide

by Florence Morrison

When you hire a home health aide to provide you with care in the comfort of your home, you'll want to develop a close relationship with the caregiver. He or she may visit you several times a week or even spend nights in your home, so it's ideal to start your relationship off on the right foot. Getting used to spending time with someone new can occasionally have its challenges, but you may find that setting some rules can be helpful. If your aide doesn't know your house's rules, he or she may inadvertently be breaking them—but by being clear in this manner, things will go smoothly. Here are some rules that you might wish to set.

Space For His/Her Possessions

When a home health aide visits you for a couple hours a day, he or she won't likely be bringing personal possessions along. However, if you reach the point at which you have a caregiver with you around the clock, he or she will obviously have several personal items. Some homeowners are meticulous about organization and may not want their caregiver's personal effects strewn around the house. You may wish to empty a cabinet and ask your aide to keep his or her items in this location.

Volume Requirements

Don't be afraid to set some rules that relate to the volume inside the house. Perhaps the caregiver will be watching TV during the evening; if the volume is loud enough for you to hear it from your bed, asking him or her to keep the volume low or use headphones is a reasonable request. Perhaps the caregiver's cell phone has a loud ringtone. This may be necessary if the caregiver needs to receive medical calls, but there's no harm in asking him or her to lower this volume if you find that it startles you.

Behavioral Differences

Ideally, you'll quickly find that you and your home health aide have the same type of personality, and thus you behave similarly. This won't always be the case, but this difference doesn't have to be a challenge. You can simply establish some rules that the caregiver can follow. For example, if you're slow to get up in the morning and need help, you may request that the aide help you in a quiet manner, rather than try to be overly cheery and energetic. Being clear about any rules that you wish to share will make your relationship healthy and beneficial.

For more information, talk to a company like Certified Home Care of Georgia.


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About Me

Tips for Helping Your Favorite Senior Stay in Great Health

I have a passion for seniors. When I was growing up, my granny was my best friend. She helped me with my homework every day after school and was always ready to lend an ear when I needed someone to talk to. As I grew older and my grandmother did as well, she developed dementia. My parents, siblings, and I all took turns visiting her home to give her the extra care she needed. I learned a lot during this experience and know there are others out there with elderly relatives they are already caring for or suspect may need some extra care. I decided to create a blog to share my senior care tips with anyone and everyone who needs the advice. Come back often for new posts!

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