There are millions of Americans who are over the age of 60. Some of them are still strong and can still work for a living. There are some of them however who are weak and forgetful. They are the elderly people who we often see in senior care facilities.
If you consider senior care is so easy, better think again. Volunteers at senior care homes and find out how taxing and serious the job is. Caring for elderly people is very much the same as caring for young children because the same amount of attention is needed, the same amount of caring and caution is needed plus a great deal more concern for their health. This is because elderly people are more inclined to health problems because of their age and their weakening systems. In fact most of them have health problems that are being closely watched by their physicians.
Below are some of the truths in senior care that you should know first before you decide to get into senior care.
1. Senior care is hard
If you are thinking of sitting the whole morning watching over your elderly while they sleep, think again. These people will not sleep the whole day away. This is especially true with those who are sent to senior care homes, where they are given the chance to socialize and to do some fun activities that they will be interested in. Senior care is hard work. You are asked to watch over the elderly people 24/7. You will take care of their meals, their medicines and their clothing. For some who will be given charges that are too weak to move, you will have to also clothe them, bathe them and even help them with their bowel movements.
2. Senior care is multi-tasking
Don’t expect to have just one charge to take care of. Most senior care homes will assign two to five patients per caregiver unless of course you were hired specifically for one patient or the facility that you worked in caters to the rich and the famous. In addition to watching over your charges, you will also be tasked to schedule their medicines and to take care of their food intake and diet.
3. Senior care is nerve-wracking
Remember that when you are taking care of elderly people, you are basically in charge of their health. This is more true with those who have illnesses and health conditions. You must know everything about their health problems and also their medications. A little familiarity on first aid will also go a long way in senior care.