Why is it important to provide comfort to your seniors?
Old age life needs more love and care from the family and relatives. We should give them the most comfortable life we can offer.
Comfort is interwoven into the bodies, into the central nervous system and the memories, into the unique ways people navigate and act in the world. It should also be woven into the spaces they inhabit as a means to support them both physically and emotionally.
The ways and means of providing comfort are within what stimulates, strengthens and contributes to maintaining and recovering existing abilities, thus allowing the older adult to better withstand the moments of discomfort.
Creating a better and more secure life for elderly people should always be a priority. There are some things that need to be focused on so that older people can get all the love they have expected from us.
Tips for a comfortable life for Your Seniors
Live with elders – It is not always possible for children to live with their parents, but the joy they feel by living with their children is incomparable to living in old-age shelters. So, if it is possible, give your maximum time to your elder ones to make them feel wanted.
Provide them with their independence – Providing independence typically means giving them the freedom to handle their financial activity, and make the decisions they have been doing for ages.
A good balanced Diet – You should not discriminate against the foods. A balanced food curbing carbs, protein, and vitamins should be given in a proportionate manner. As they say, an apple a day can help their metabolism and helps them to easily digest food. A balance of proteins, calcium and vitamin D is essential for good health and maintaining bone strength.
Regular health check-up – You should always be careful that they do not have any illness or are suffering. So, regular checkup is the most important thing to do. With their old age, they tend to share less, so make sure that they share their physical discomfort with you. More importantly, you are the one who should make your move first and take them to the doctor. The problems such as hypertension, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia could affect.
Physical exercises – The next aspect is to ensure that the elders are having good physical exercise. Physical activity is important because if they do not go through it, then they will have muscle pain and also feel less hungry. To have a good physical condition, a proper nutritional diet is a must and a loss of appetite results in various health problems.
Provide home safety measures – The proper place to live in makes them feel safer and easier. For example, the flooring choices, uneven flooring or cold flooring, can affect their health. The electrical appliances, use of various gadgets on which they can easily trip, should be properly managed so that there would be no accidents. Create a living space, a home that your elders are comfortable living in. A space that does not hinder their privacy and their comfort.
While we are in the home safety measures for our seniors we give you some tips for setting up a room for them to be more comfortable and secure in their very own room.
Tips for Setting Up a Room for Your Senior
If there is one important part of the home it is the bedroom. Seniors sleep in the bedroom. Preparing for the start of each day, and getting ready for the day’s end, are also done in the bedroom. Older adults must navigate the bedroom in the middle of the night to use the bathroom
Seniors must fell comforted and rested in their own rooms. They will spend significant time in the bedroom, so ensuring the space meets their unique needs is essential.
Older adults who suffer from an illness may find themselves spending significant time resting in the bedroom. Injuries can also lead to spending lengthy periods in bed in order to facilitate recovery. Bedridden seniors rest and have meals in the bedroom, too.
Plus, the majority of aging people prefer to age in place. Consequently, the home must be modified to enable seniors to live with as much independence as possible. The bedroom is no exception. A senior friendly bedroom ensures older adults are safe, happy, and comfortable.
Making modifications to the bedroom, such as the ones that follow, will be necessary to preserve seniors’ safety and comfort.
Bedroom on the main floor
The first step in turning a bedroom into a senior friendly one is to choose a room located on the ground floor. Stairs in multi-story homes are an obstacle to elderly individuals who ambulate using a cane, walker, motorized scooter, or wheelchair. A bedroom on the main floor is ideal.
When a first-floor room is not possible, families may build a stair lift to facilitate mobility. Seniors with back, knee, or balance issues can access an upper-story bedroom with increased ease. Various stair lift options are available, including those featuring a standing platform or perch-style seat.
An Adjustable Bed
The aging process makes it difficult for seniors to bend or move downwards. A tall bed with a height of 25 to 36 inches is thus recommended. A bed with significant height prevents older people from having to bend in order to get into and out of bed.
An adjustable bed may be appropriate, especially when the senior feels more comfortable with a raised head or foot. Families may invest in bed railings for peace of mind. Safety rails prevent the senior from rolling out of bed; an assist rail offers the senior stability when exiting the bed.
Setup Slip-Resistant Flooring
Carpeting, with its softness and traction, seems like the ideal flooring solution for a senior’s bedroom. However, consider carpets carefully, since ambulation is more difficult for seniors who use walkers or canes. Plus, carpet fibers trap allergens, triggering allergies in seniors with respiratory issues.
Hardwood and laminate floors can be slippery. Reduce the likelihood of falls by adding safety strips to increase traction. Regular maintenance may be required, since hardwood floors are easily damaged by moisture. If choosing to add rugs to the floor, prevent trips on the rug by taping down the edges.
Ample Lighting
Adequate bedroom lighting is critical for safety at night. Touch-activated bedside lamps, for instance, prevent seniors from fumbling with light switches in the dark. Good lighting also gives seniors with impaired eyesight the ability to find items with greater ease.
Under-the-bed lighting is triggered by motion sensors when the senior steps out of bed and provides immediate illumination. Automated lighting systems are also useful to older people. When possible, choose a bedroom built with several windows to incorporate more natural light.
Minimize Furniture
A minimalist approach to a senior’s bedroom is key to preventing clutter and the associated risks of falls. In addition to the bed, a bedside table, reading chair, and a chest of drawers suffice in a senior’s bedroom. Also limit decorative elements in efforts to prevent clutter.
The choice of furniture should not obstruct the senior’s walking path. The elderly individual should have a clear path to walk without bumping into furniture or décor. At the same time, the ideal bedroom will have enough furniture so that the senior can hold onto them for balance.
Use Smart Technology
Use smart technology whenever possible. Automated window coverings may be controlled by a remote from the senior’s bed. Such conveniences ease the daily life of a senior who is bedridden or suffers from mobility issues. Add a white-noise generator that plays the sound of falling rain for soothing comfort.
For safety reasons, the senior should have easy access to a phone in the bedroom. Ideally, a functional phone featuring a large, backlit keypad will be located next to the bed. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers in the drawer of the bedside table.
Given the numerous technology devices available today, the typical senior’s bedroom may be littered with cords and cables. Keep cords away from walking paths or tape them to the floor to prevent tripping hazards. Replace any frayed or damaged cords immediately.
In conclusion, creating a senior-friendly bedroom is helpful to a large degree. However, seniors still need the support of compassionate individuals, caregivers who are available to provide assistance from morning until night.