Tips for Helping Mom through Positive Elder Care
Elder Care in Lowell MI
You have been taking care of your aging mother for several months. During the first several weeks, she only needed a
little bit of help here and there around the house. For the most part, you only had to help carry laundry downstairs, bring it back up, help her fold it, and occasionally assist her in preparing a meal, especially one that took some time and required a great deal of ingredients, chopping, slicing, and more.
The more you did for her, the more she seemed to need help. She began calling you for various tasks, including changing a light bulb, taking her to the store, and even helping her get up and down the stairs.
You are basically providing elder care for her, even if you didn’t realize it at the time. You felt it was your responsibility to assist her because of your close proximity to her, both emotionally and physically. Because you didn’t have any prior experience with this type of work, you didn’t realize that the more you did for her, the more she may rely on your help. Calling you up and having you stop over also provided her companionship and company. She got to have a conversation with you each time, even if it was only about mundane things. That had a tremendous emotional benefit for her as well.
Over time, though, you noticed she was having more difficulty with her physical capabilities. Eventually, she was not bathing as regularly as she used to. All of your life you knew your mother to be the type of woman who showered on a daily basis. She always told you that keeping clean was important for health and appearances. Yet here she was no longer showering daily and sometimes she would wear the same clothes two or even three days in a row.
You tried to encourage her to take better care of herself, but it didn’t seem to work. Below are a few tips that could help in that situation.
1. Discuss the reasons for her lack of personal hygiene.
It may be a simple matter of forgetting to take a shower. If her mental function and capability is in decline, she may simply be forgetting to take a shower on a regular basis. A simple reminder could be all that’s needed.
2. Understand her physical capabilities.
Even though you think she can do more than she is doing on her own, she may have significantly limited strength in her legs that is causing her to feel off balance, especially in the shower. She may benefit by having grab bars installed and maybe even a shower seat with a hand-held shower head.
3. Rely on her friends.
If she has a good friend with whom she enjoys spending time, ask the friend to call her and talk to her about getting together. If she has not gone out in a long time, she may be more willing to take a shower so that she looks and smells her best when she goes out in public.
If you or someone you know needs help with elder care services in Lowell, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
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