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When an old relative requires daily care, moving her or him into your home could be the right solution under the circumstances. However, before shifting an old relative, you must consider her health issues and if you have adequate space for her to live comfortably in your house. It is important to remember that home care is a great responsibility and so before committing, it is necessary to realistically assess your entire situation and understand completely what home care actually, entails. Is it better to send your old relative to a reputed aged care home instead? Taking care of an old relative may involve assisting in her everyday activities including dressing, bathing, feeding, providing transport and managing medications. You may even have to take care of other responsibilities such as shopping, paying bills and banking as well. Additionally, you need to give her company, talk to her and make her feel comfortable, wanted and welcome. You are required to provide solid emotional support so that your close relative feels at home. Not only do you require to fulfil few duties and carry out a bunch of daily activities, it is mandatory to make your place much safer and really comfortable for your loved one. Getting Prepared • You could go about making small modifications to your house to accommodate your relative and ensure that she is able to move around safely and comfortably. • You could rearrange some furniture so that there is enough space for her to move around freely without any risk of accidents. • Do away with loose rugs and seal carpet edges to rule out any trip hazards. • If your relative requires to be lifted for instance, from a bed to a chair and vice-versa, you need to lift her properly with utmost care and correct technique to avoid injuries. • Ask a community nurse, occupational therapist or physiotherapist to assist you in working out the best and safest method of lifting or transferring the person. • Consult with the patient’s doctor. He can give you an idea about what type of care she would be requiring and it is at all practical for her to still live at home. • Be ready to give emotional support and show empathy as she would be leaving her home and availing your help. That could really be depressing for her as she would be losing her freedom and becoming dependent on you. • Assess if you are in a position to accommodate overnight carers? You must identify some space if an overnight caregiver is hired. Give a Good Thought Think very carefully before committing to someone. You cannot really undermine the fact that care-giving could really be pretty exhausting and taxing. Can you handle so much pressure? It is equally disturbing for your relative to give up an independent way of life and get adjusted to a whole new set-up. If you ponder over these issues well in advance, it would be easier for you to decide if sharing your time and home with her is the right move. Caring Could Prove to Be a Bit Too Much You could be increasingly finding it difficult to care for your aged relative. If your family life is under stress, you could take a decision to shift her to a good care home. It is necessary to stay fit and active to play the role of a good care giver. If your health is going for a toss, it is time to consider a good care home for your aged relative. You simply cannot allow your health to suffer. If your relative’s health is deteriorating or if she has developed dementia or Alzheimer’s caregiving becomes increasingly demanding job and it is better to seek 24x7 professional help.
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