Caring for an elderly person – be it a relative or a friend – in their home requires a fair amount of preplanning and work to ensure that you are striking the right balance between freedom and safety. Every elderly person has a right to respect, care, and choice, and it’s vital that you ensure that everyone’s needs are being met in the safest and most respectful way. One of the most important parts of being human is the desire to be heard, the freedom of expression – to tell one’s story – and when you invest the time and consideration into choosing the right kind of home care packages you will reap the rewards of a safe and happy environment. You want to ensure that there is sufficient freedom for personal expression, while staying safe.
Indeed as the Charter of Care Recipients’ Rights and Responsibilities – Home Care states, every person has the right to freedom and respect, and to be treated fairly. A person’s rights don’t reduce simply because they need home care – regardless of their physical or mental frailty – or their ability to fully exercise their rights. A positive and supportive environment should be fostered no matter what – and this short piece is here to help you find the right balance between safety and freedom. Care for family understands the challenges which occur when caring for the aged, those living with a disability and those requiring an extra pair of hands be it for their young ones.
Safety in home care
One of the most important parts of in-home care is ensuring that both the carer and the recipient of care are being safe. Whether you are practicing safe lifting when moving into and out of the shower, or if you are making sure you are vacuuming ergonomically – it’s vital to stay safe. Some of the most common injuries endured in home care include:
- Vacuuming injuries taking place from pushing or pulling a vacuum, using a poor posture when you’re vacuuming or moving furniture around
- Mopping can cause injuries to your body due to similar issues as listed above
- Showering clients or relatives – making sure you are using the right posture
- Moving elderly clients/relatives – make sure you use a sling or hoist if you need to!
Freedom in home care
It’s important that the kind of care you’re providing is conducive to enough freedom that the person being cared for feels that they have their civil liberties. You can speak to your client or the elderly relative for whom you are arranging care and speak to them about what they value and what is important. Too often you’ll see people who just don’t speak up when it comes to their care and they end up missing out on what they want. It’s vital that the lines of communication are open with the people you are caring for, so they can get the best from their in-home care experience.
Other things to consider
If you need to talk to your relative about the possibility of investing in something, like an in-home lift or some ramps for the home, then perhaps this is a conversation to have. There is a great deal to be gained from being able to stay in your home, and it’s often the case that a few simple modifications can have a huge effect for the accessibility and enjoyment of the home.
Just remember that you can always maximise the freedom of both the relatives who are caring for their elderly relatives and for the person getting care, by investing in in-home care aid. When you have in-home care help you can ensure that you are getting professional care at all times when you need it the most. We all have a right to live as freely as we can given our particular set of circumstances, so why not make the most of what is available to us?
