Over 300,000 older people suffer hip fractures every year. The most common cause is falling sideways.
It’s important that your parents or loved ones feel healthy as they age. However, it is also important that they have a plan in place in case they do fall.
The good news is you don’t have to do this alone. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to create a senior care plan. Continue reading to ensure their well-being, health, and independence.
Evaluate Your Loved One’s Needs
As your loved ones age, it becomes more important to check in with them. This is to ensure that their needs are being met both physically and emotionally.
When evaluating your loved one’s needs, consider their mental and physical health. This includes their ability to care for themselves and their social support network. Once you have an understanding of their needs, you can put together a care plan that meets all their needs.
Keep in mind that your loved one’s needs may change over time. There are signs that you need to be aware of to ensure that they are able to age healthy and safely. Click here to have a better understanding of the signs to look for.
Understand Your Loved One’s Wishes
Sit down with them and discuss their wishes for their senior years. Discuss things like where they want to live, what kind of care they want to receive, and how they want to spend their days.
This conversation can be difficult, but it is important to have so that you can make a senior care plan that meets their needs and respects their wishes. You can look for clues in their daily life and past choices to make an educated guess about what they would want. No matter what, it is important to always keep your loved one’s best interests at heart.
Find the Right Care Facility
Consider your loved one’s needs and preferences when choosing a care facility. If they are still relatively independent, they may prefer a facility that offers more independence. If they need more assistance with activities of daily living, then a facility that provides more hands-on care may be a better option.
Whatever type of facility you choose, it is important to make sure that it is a good fit for your loved one. Take the time to tour different facilities and meet with the staff to get a feel for the environment.
Manage the Cost of Senior Care
Find out what services are available in your area and what the average cost is. You can also talk to your loved one’s doctor to get some recommendations.
Once you have an idea of what you’re dealing with, you can start to make a plan. You may need to budget for additional costs such as transportation or home care. You can also look into ways to reduce costs, such as using home health care services instead of a nursing home.
A Senior Care Plan for Healthy Aging
A senior care plan should be tailored to your loved one’s individual needs and preferences. It is also important to be flexible and adapt the plan as your loved one’s needs change. Creating a care plan is an important step in ensuring that your loved one lives a happy, healthy, and safe life as they age.
If you want to learn more, browse our other helpful resources on senior health.