Baby Boomer Family – Senior Care

Welcome to this weeks edition of Baby Boomer Family – Senior Care

Show Notes:

 Senior Care

As we get older, where will we live, where will we get care and who will do the caring.  These are serious questions and the answers may not be easy to find.

As the population grows older, access to nursing homes, hospitals and other care facilities will be limited by the size of the population and the number of facilities and staff available.  So where will the care be delivered?

Most likely the care will be in your own home.  Your home is a familiar environment and most likely you feel very comfortable there.  So a few things should be done to insure your care or self care is adequate.

First is the home a safe environment.  You and a family member should assess the safety of your home.  Arrange for what ever is needed to make it as safe as possible particularly if you are living alone.

Meals should be assessed.  Are you able to feed yourself nutritious meals every day?  Can you get your own groceries?  Can you cook safely for yourself?  Any changes or arrangements needed to ensure proper nutrition should be made immediately.

Health care should assessed.  Availability, medications, etc should be assessed.  A family member should go along the visit the doctors to be sure they under stand the whole picture.  Are there living wills, medical power of attorney, end of life directives and a final will completed?  If not they should be completed.

Is there spiritual needs met?  Do they have a priest, minister, chaplain?  If so are they aware of the condition of the senior?

Caring for a senior in their own home is a great way to grow old.  As long as it is safe, healthy and comfortable.