Walking in a Senior’s Shoes

walk-with-a-senior

If we’re lucky, we’ll all get there one day: old age. But “senior spring” isn’t always a vacation because aging often affects the elderly in difficult ways. More than just the transition to a cane or glasses, aging can make even the simplest daily activities a burden on your loved one.

Memory disorders like Alzheimer’s disease or movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease can make driving or dressing hard to do. Stroke sufferers or those with congestive heart failure may lack the stamina to complete simple chores like cooking meals or cleaning the house. Currently, 32.6 million U.S. seniors have arthritis, which means that millions of people are unable to do the things they used to do with ease.

These effects of aging can have other ramifications as well. The inability to move or think quickly can create frustration, isolation and sadness in your loved one. This, in turn, can cause exhaustion and unhappiness in family members. But, there are steps that families can take to prepare themselves. And Granny NANNIES’ referrals of experienced Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Home Health Aides (HHAs) can help the process, too.

A unique step includes families participating in simulators of old age to experience how their elderly loved ones live everyday. Simulations include:

  • Glasses to mimic cataracts or glaucoma
  • Ear plugs to mimic deafness
  • Empathy Lungs® to mimic C.O.P.D.
  • Gloves to mimic diminished dexterity

Participants are then given simple tasks like tying shoes, writing a check or opening packages in order to see how elderly people struggle with seemingly simple tasks.

The most important step, however, is to have open communication. Discuss, with sensitivity and empathy, bringing in a caregiver to help your loved one. Involve them when planning out daily schedules. Then let Granny NANNIES take care of the rest.

The referrals specialize in assisting the needs of your loved ones. They can help with bathing and other health needs such as medication reminders. To improve motor skills or cognition, the referred CNAs and HHAs are happy to do recreational activities like crossword puzzles, board games and even assist in range of motion exercises. If your loved one struggles with cooking, the referrals are experienced in meal preparation with dietary requirements. Best of all, the compassionate CNAs and HHAs are there to listen to your loved ones in their time of need.

Aging can be difficult, but the qualified CNAs and HHAs referred by Granny NANNIES are trained to provide the special care required to make the process easier, and it’s done in the privacy and comfort of home. Alongside therapy and other preventative actions, CNAs and HHAs assist in routine daily activities, such as personal care and monitoring cognitive risk factors.

Granny NANNIES was established in 1990 to provide seniors with available in-home care. Operating under the founding premise that reliable and affordable senior home care should be available to everyone, Granny NANNIES offers personalized services to meet the requirements of any individual, regardless of age or need, in their home. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we provide quality and trustworthy in-home care for you and your loved ones. For more information on how we can help you, call 800-316-2669.