Staying Independent and Strong as a Senior: 3 Considerations
A large number of seniors who suffer from various age-related or illness related disabilities do not want to depend on others for day-to-day tasks, but would often have to on account of their unfortunate medical conditions.
In spite of some scenarios making it absolutely necessary for the patients to seek help and care, there are plenty of others where a large number of them can remain partially independent. Obviously, there are certain ways life can be made easier, whether it be through installing a wheelchair elevator like the ones available on this website, or by moving to a single-story home. Hopefully, as we discuss a few of those methods in more detail, things should begin to make more sense.
A Proper Understanding of the Situation
Until and unless the senior has a proper understanding of their situation, it would be particularly hard for them to figure out the solutions which they require in order to maintain some semblance of independence. A consultation with the doctors, caregivers and the support equipment provider should help them in devising the right strategy. After all, a senior who lost vision due to glaucoma will need a completely different setup, compared to someone who has lost the ability to use their limbs after a stroke.
In case the patient is not in control of their faculties, the explanations will need to be simplified and delivered by the caretaker if they still care about maintaining at least some independence and mobility.
Making the Necessary Home Modifications
It is quite possible today to make the necessary home modifications in ways that would allow seniors to remain as independent as possible, given their specific satiation. Renting or buying medical equipment in Sydney Australia is made particularly easy for seniors and caretakers by companies like Bosshard Medical. They carry everything that seniors and caretakers may need to improve patient care and patient independence, but most importantly, their consultants are always available to help the clients figure out exactly what they need to improve the situation.
Examples of a few modifications which haven proven themselves to be the most helpful in maintaining senior independence are as follows:
- Bariatric transit shower and commode
- Pressure-relieving mattress and pillows
- Pressure-relieving heel pads
- Motorised recliners
- Motorised electric beds with wheels
- Stair lifts
- Self-propelled and motorised wheelchairs
- Strollers, walkers and knee walkers
Mental Fortitude
It has been found that seniors often lose the will to remain strong, or the belief in their own abilities, after an accident/stroke/cardiac arrest or any other incident which might have landed them in their present predicament. Talking to a therapist is often highly effective in helping seniors stay strong mentally. They can help them cope better with their present situation, without becoming overly reliant.
Precautionary measures should be taken before getting to that stage where seeking external help becomes a necessity. Although none of the measures are 100% effective and are not at all valid in the case of accidents and uncontrollable diseases, healthy diets, regular exercise regimens, and timely health check-ups can prove to be particularly effective nonetheless. As for the rest, what we have discussed so far should help a majority of seniors to stay independent enough to maintain their own dignity for years to come.