What is daily care for the elderly

Daily care for the elderly is a continuous care behavior that takes into account physical care, psychological support, and social function maintenance, with the core of delaying disability and improving life happiness. It is by no means "just wait for food and drink, and don't get into trouble" as many people think.

I have been doing home care for the elderly for almost 7 years. When I first entered the industry, I thought that I could just complete the prescribed actions such as feeding, wiping myself, and reminding me to take medicine. Until I met an 82-year-old Mr. Wang, his family specifically told him that he had fallen off his femoral neck before and that he must not get out of bed and walk around. We had to help him do it, but after working as a nurse for half a month, the old man ate less and less and said nothing. Later, I came to evaluate him and quietly asked him if he wanted to sit up and eat by himself. He burst into tears and said, "I'm not a useless person. I even need someone to hand me a cup." After discussing with his family, we provided him with armrests beside the bed and non-slip tableware with suction cups. As long as he could do things by himself without interfering, in just half a month, the old man was already able to walk to the living room and watch TV on his own with the help of a walker.

In fact, there are always different voices in the care circle on the scale of daily care. One group believes that the elderly have poor ability to withstand risks as they age, and they should help with all they can to avoid being tired and falling and causing accidents. The other group believes that excessive care will cause the elderly's physical functions to deteriorate rapidly. If they were able to walk on their own, they may not be able to stand up after lying down for three months. Both opinions are supported by actual cases. It really depends on the specific person. In fact, it is still necessary to adjust the condition of the elderly. There is no standard answer.

You have to say that the things you need to do every day are actually quite detailed, such as touching the old man's hands and feet every day to see if they are cold, and observing whether he is choking while eating. If he is choking recently, it may be that his swallowing function has deteriorated. You need to make the rice softer, add a thickener to the water, and don't take it seriously. Choking can cause pneumonia, which is very troublesome. There is also skin care. Don’t think that only the bedridden elderly need to pay attention. Even the elderly who can take care of themselves must be reminded to wipe the folds of the groin and armpits every two or three days in winter. The elderly have a slow metabolism, sweat less and are prone to collecting dirt. If they have a rash, it will be itchy and uncomfortable, and many people are embarrassed to say it. Last time, a 76-year-old aunt told us that she always felt itchy in her lower body. She washed it with salt water for half a month, but it didn't work. She went to the hospital to find out that it was eczema caused by boredom. She applied medicine for a week and it was cured. To put it bluntly, she didn't pay attention to cleaning. If you meet an elderly person who has been bedridden for a long time, you need to be more careful and help him turn over every two hours. Otherwise, the sacrococcygeal area is prone to pressure injuries, which is what we often call bedsores. Once ulcers break, it is difficult to heal. Sitting with support is more effective than applying any amount of ointment.

In fact, daily care for the elderly is like maintaining the old rattan chair at home. Instead of waiting for it to fall apart and then repair it, pay more attention to small problems. Loosen and tighten the screws, wipe the dust, and follow the grain of the rattan. It will last much longer and sit comfortably.

In addition to these visible things, we have to take care of the invisible emotions. There used to be an Aunt Li. Her children were out of town and she was given a lot of money every month. The nursing staff kept the house clean and the meals were cooked to taste. However, she always said that her body hurt. She went to the hospital for a full physical examination. She was not sick, and every time we came to visit her, we would chat with her about her previous job in a textile factory. We also helped her sign up for the community choir, which she went to twice a week. Within a month, she said, "It seems that all the pain in her body is gone." To put it bluntly, she was too lonely and wanted someone to talk to her.

The longer I work in this field, the more I realize that there is no standard care list. In the final analysis, it is to treat the elderly as ordinary people. Don't treat them as a "burden" who needs special treatment, and don't treat them as a "porcelain doll" who can't do anything. Whatever makes them comfortable is the best daily care.