Just for a second, close your eyes and imagine this: You’ve spent most of your life taking care of and assisting others – as a parent, by volunteering in your neighborhood, in your workplace, and as a grandparent. After all that time spent living independently and being in control of your life’s decisions, you have now aged to the point that you are the one in need of personal care assistance with bathing and other tasks. Imagine the sense of loss, vulnerability, and fear.
If you are a caregiver to a senior loved one, try to put yourself in his/her shoes when facing obstacles in receiving personal care assistance. The struggles senior family members feel are real, and a little empathy and patience can go a long way towards promoting a sense of peace about accepting your help. Let’s face it: allowing someone to help with personal care needs, such as bathing, bathroom needs, or dressing is unpleasant at best, and may feel as though dignity is ripped right away from the person if not handled sensitively.
Heaven at Home Senior Care is no stranger to these challenges, and recommends keeping the SMILE concept in mind to help these sensitive situations feel more comfortable for both you and your senior loved one:
Safety: Assistive products such as grab bars, electric razors, a bathtub chair, and a handheld shower can be useful.
Modesty: Make sure there is privacy in the room and maintain modesty as much as possible.
Independence: Allow older adults to retain the ability to make choices, to express their own personal style, and to do as much as possible independently.
Levity: Accept imperfection. Make it fun.
Etiquette: Treat the person with dignity, as a respected adult.
Heaven at Home Senior Care’s expert, compassionate Denton home care experts provide respectful personal care assistance for seniors. Our caregivers are caring, fully trained, and background checked – so you have peace of mind in knowing that your senior loved one is always safe and secure in our care. A few of the many ways we can help include:
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Transportation and accompaniment on errands, appointments, and fun activities
- Meal planning and preparation
- Bathing, getting dressed and other personal hygiene assistance
- Mobility assistance
- And so much more – customized to each person’s specific needs
Contact us any time online or at (940) 380-0500 to request a free in-home assessment and to learn more about how we can help make life easier and more comfortable for your older loved one with our senior care in Denton, TX and the nearby areas.