Compassionate Senior Care Oklahoma City
Senior care, home care - the terms can be very confusing for the entire family. There is some good news, though: When you work with a trusted partner like LiveBetter at Home, you don't need to worry about terminology so much. All that matters is the care of your loved one!
We work with families to create custom care plans
that meet their specific needs while providing exceptional care and providing peace of mind. Still, it can be helpful to arm yourself with as much information as possible as you research and plan for next steps when searching for senior home care providers.
Traditionally, “senior care” tends to focus more on helping older adults stay in their own home when they need a little extra help around the house. This is different from respite care, which provides short-term care following a hospital stay, illness or surgery; or when family caregivers need a short-term break for vacations or “me time.”
Here at LiveBetter at Home
We believe that truly exceptional, compassionate senior care Oklahoma City starts with experienced caregivers who are truly empowered. That starts with training, support, competitive pay and benefits, and other tangibles and intangibles that ultimately mean our caregivers love working for us and with you.
We know that making the choice for senior care can prove a difficult time for families, and we know how important it is to you that your loved one wakes up each morning happy and excited to take on the day. By committing to the growth and support of our staff as well as our client patients, we nurture an environment where everyone thrives. .
Senior care services help with overall health by providing compassionate, skilled caregiver assistance with activities including:
Personal hygiene
Grooming
Getting Dressed
Bathing
Mealtime
Transferring
Ambulating
Toileting
Respecting Dignity & Autonomy During Personal Care Services
Maintaining dignity and respect while delivering non-medical personal care services is crucial in supporting our clients. We have years of experience in honoring senior independence and providing home assistance that empowers them to make decisions, all while prioritizing their safety and comfort. To ensure seniors receive dignified care, consider these important guidelines:
Allow your loved one to determine who is present during personal care tasks like grooming or bathing, preserving their sense of privacy.
When possible, provide options for clothing or hygiene products, allowing them to make choices that suit their preferences.
Give your loved one the time they need to complete tasks at their own pace, creating a comfortable and respectful environment during care.
Use kind and respectful language when talking to them, and actively listen to their concerns about their care plan or treatments.
How to know when Mom or Dad might need senior care services
If you’re not sure whether senior care services are a fit for your loved one, here are some of the most common that it may be the right time:
If you stop by or are FaceTiming a loved one and notice unkempt or dirty hair, an unused or old toothbrush, or laundry that’s piling up, along with dirty or ripped clothing, and more, it could be a sign that your loved one isn’t meeting their personal hygiene needs.
You may also notice unwashed dishes, an overflowing sink, random items around the house, or clearly dirty kitchens, bathrooms, full garbage, an overgrown lawn or weeds throughout the garden, and more.
As they get older, some seniors may forget to take care of important tasks around the house like replacing smoke detector batteries, replacing expired fire extinguishers, fixing broken appliances, and other elements that not only make it difficult to function at home, but may actually be dangerous.
If Mom or Dad’s car is showing signs of fender benders or other damage, is leaking oil or other fluids, or if you notice an expired driver’s license, registration, or neglected insurance, this can also be a sign of senior overwhelm.
If you’re noticing missed payment notices, bounced checks, and other signs of late payments or bank overdrafts, this could be an indicator that Mom or Dad is feeling overwhelmed by daily responsibilities.
If your loved one’s refrigerator is often empty, they’re eating out too much, you notice expired food, or you notice that Mom or Dad is cooking less and even losing weight, they could be so frustrated with grocery shopping, meal prep, and cooking/storage of leftovers that they are missing out on nutritious meals.
The ups and downs of a regular day can be trying on our bodies as we get older.
Sometimes, unfortunately, the first sign that a loved one needs senior care is an injury of some sorts. New bruises, cuts, scratches, or even something like a sprained ankle or broken arm could indicate that your loved one is having accidents or is falling around the house.
How to talk to an Older Loved One about Senior Care
Without a doubt, it can be difficult to broach the topic of senior care with a loved one. Your family may need some emotional support, and it is important to ensure everyone is on the same page. But when you notice some of the signs listed above, it may be time to have a conversation about senior care. These conversations can be a bit awkward and uncomfortable for everyone involved, and some seniors may even become combative or angry when the topic is broached.
Still, these are important conversations, so broaching them carefully is essential. Based on our years of experience as both families with loved ones in senior care, and as senior care industry veterans, here is some of our best advice for having these difficult conversations:
If you have siblings or other close family members, even if they live out of town, it’s important to involve them in any and all conversations about senior care. It is difficult enough broaching the topic with your senior loved one. You don’t want to experience any stress or strife with other family members as well.
Plus, having a separate conversation amongst yourselves first can help clear out any issues or questions in advance, so that everyone is on the same page with a united front when talking to your loved one.
If you’re having difficulty coming to an agreement with your siblings or other relatives, you may want to contact a social worker or family therapist to help you work through any problems. An outsider can ask questions and make unbiased observations to help ensure everyone is aligned on the best way forward.
It’s important to understand your loved one’s finances and have an idea of your budget before you talk to your loved one about options. This way, you can prevent any possible disappointment down the road. Talk to your loved one’s health insurance company, look through finances if you have the ability to do so before talking to your loved one (respecting privacy and without being invasive, solely for the purpose of preparing a plan). And among your family, determine who may or may not be able to provide financial assistance as well.
Your loved one may feel as if they have no say in any decisions, so talking about various options for senior care can be helpful. This can include talking about an assisted living facility, retirement homes, and other, more dramatic changes in addition to senior care.
Your loved one may surprise you with what they prefer. In our experience, though, we’ve found that nearly every senior prefers in-home senior care to an assisted living community, or any of the other options. Be sure to thoroughly walk through any and all options, though, so that your loved one can make the right decision and find a good fit for their needs.
Have the conversation as soon as you’ve done all your preparation and are aligned on the next steps. Don’t put it off – your loved one may actually be relieved at the conversation. Many times, we’ve found that seniors feel like they’ve been a burden to their loved ones, and beginning senior care helps allay senior concerns and anxiety while also providing them with the care they need.
Your loved one may be ready for the conversation, or they could be caught off guard. It’s important to remain sensitive to their feelings, and how complicated a time like this can be for seniors. No one wants to admit that they’re not able to do as much as they used to do when they were younger.
And, if your loved one refuses any type of care, be prepared to respect those wishes (unless you have evidence that your loved one is in serious danger, in which case you may want to enlist the help of one of your loved one’s doctors in the conversation).
Another element to consider when it comes to respecting your loved one’s feelings is to ask your loved one what type of help or assistance they would like to make life easier. Letting them “make the list” can be empowering and can help alleviate any feelings of helplessness. It can also help in your preparation when you take the next step in contacting senior home care providers.
Once you’re in the conversation, it’s important to be positive and upbeat. If your loved one feels like this is shameful or a reflection on their inabilities, rather than their abilities, it can dramatically impact the conversation. Don’t focus on what your loved one can’t do, but instead, on what they love to do, and how senior care will help them do more of what they love.
We are here to help with senior care Oklahoma City
If you or a loved one needs help completing daily tasks, please contact us to take the first steps in your custom care consultation. We are here to help, and we are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. We are proud to help you in any way possible, and we’ll do everything we can to help!