There is no formal ‘Senior Citizens Bill of Rights’, but as individuals, senior citizens are entitled to their rights. However, the senior citizens have little energy left in them in their old age to fight for their rights and therefore, it is the duty of the children to see that their elderly parents are getting what they are rightfully entitled to.
Every right must be claimed to be deemed as a right. There are laws in existence for the running of nursing homes for the elderly and retirement communities. Even if your elderly mom or dad is in an assisted care facility, there are certain laws that are fundamental and expected to be followed by these care facilities too. It is your duty as a caregiver to see that they are following the laws and living up to the expectations.
There are some factors that you must verify before selecting a facility for your elderly parents:
? Ensure that the facility will provide the basic cleanliness and safety. Check out the evacuation plans in place, in case of an emergency situation. Verify whether the evacuation plan is a workable one, considering the fact that the facility may be full of elderly and invalids who may be slow in moving out of the building in case of a fire. Find out if there is emergency power available to operate the automatic doors and elevators so that everyone can get out safely.
? If food is provided by the facility, ensure that meals will be provided three times a day. The meals should be healthy and the food should be delivered to the room if your parent is disabled or injured. There should be some variety in the diet and since there is a separate charge for the food, it is not wrong to expect some quality and variety in the food.
? If your parent has moved to an assisted care facility, they have every right to live as they wish in that apartment, since they have paid for it. However, they have to observe certain restrictions because they are living in a community setting. They should be able to live without any interference from the staff of the facility and have the freedom to select the d
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We are living in a fast and materialistic world. People are concerned with materialistic pleasures and very often get their priorities wrong. They neglect their health and their relationships with their family, a consequence of leading a fast pace life. However, there are some responsibilities in life that an individual cannot neglect, and that is to care for the elders in your family. This is a special role of a caregiver that you have to undertake, to look after your elderly parents or a relative. It is a very rewarding experience, one that will remain with you in the future in the form of pleasant memories. Caring for the elderly is not an easy task and it can bring a significant amount of stress and worry upon the caregiver. The hard work is compounded if the person is infirm or disabled.
We often take our own health for granted and neglect to take care of ourselves. However, if we have the responsibility to look after our elderly parents, we have to consider many factors, and this includes their health. Here are a few tips that can help to safeguard the health of the elders in your care.
? Diet: Maintaining a healthy and suitable diet in respect of the elderly is of utmost importance. The older people are prone to illness more often than others and a healthy, nutritionally complete diet can keep illness at bay. Avoid large amounts of fat and salt in the diet as this slows down any recoveries from illness. Too much salt makes the circulatory system sluggish and fats can clog arteries. Instead, the diet should contain plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to provide the necessary vitamins and minerals for the regeneration of tissues. Ensure that they get a sufficient quantity of fiber in their diet to promote bowel movement.
? Mental Health: The state of the mental health of the elderly individuals is a great concern for the caregiver. One has to make sure that they are comfortable in their surroundings. Setting a routine will help them relax and also give them a sense of being a part of the family life. The elderly are trying to cope with the changes happening in their lives; this may cause some depression or anxiety that should be taken care of with a little understanding and compassion.
? Physical Health: As a caregiver, you must ensure that the elderly in your care get regular health check ups. Any changes should be brought to the notice of the doctor immediately. This will help to diagnose problems quickly and the routine of the health checks will help the individual to relax and thus improve the general health.
? Exercise: It may not be possible for all elderly individuals to exercise as this depends on their physical conditions. However, 15 to 20 minutes of gentle exercise can work wonders for their general well being. Walking around the supermarket or walking the dog or gardening can be an exercise for the elders. The elderly in your care can be taken outdoors as often as possible as this can help to break the monotony of being confined to the house. Any outdoor activity will help to stretch the joints to reduce stiffness or immobility and raise their spirits, thus improving their overall health.
Tags: Elderly, Factors, Good, Handling, Health, Issues, Safeguard
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