The Role of Family in Senior Care

Family plays a vital role in senior care in Arizona for their elderly loved ones. They provide them with emotional support and guidance in order for them to remain independent. Family members can also assist their senior loved ones in ensuring they receive quality healthcare and access to the senior services they need to maintain their livelihood and active lifestyles.

Contact Haven Health today to learn about our assisted living facilities.

Importance of Family in Senior Care

Family is an essential aspect of senior care for several reasons:

Help ensure loved ones get the care they need: Family members can help find caregivers, assisted living facilities, and skilled nursing facilities with the care and services their senior family member requires.
Help educate their loved ones: Family can help teach loved ones how to use technology to stay connected, accomplish tasks easier, and take care of other needs to remain independent.
Provide help when possible: Family members can provide transportation and assist with grocery shopping, cleaning, and other such things their loved one may need assistance with.
Help them remain active and independent: Families can plan activities and outings, or help their loved ones get out of the house to socialize with friends. They can also help them remain active and get plenty of exercise to maintain their independence.

How Family Involvement Improves the Well-Being of Seniors

Family involvement can improve the well-being of seniors in several ways, including:

Longer lifespans: Seniors who have regular social interactions with family members tend to live longer because they do not feel isolated and alone.
Improved immune system: Family members can help ensure their senior loved ones are getting the proper nutrition and exercise needed to remain healthy.
Better mental health: Seniors with active family support often have better mental health. They are less likely to experience depression and sadness.
Improved brain health: Family involvement can improve brain health because seniors are more involved and active in making decisions, socializing, and maintaining their independence.

Effective Communication Strategies With Elderly Family Members

Communicating with elderly family members requires using various strategies and techniques, such as:

Speaking slowly and clearly: You do not have to shout or raise your voice. Instead, speak slowly and clearly so they can hear you.
Asking questions: Asking questions shows interest and can help you understand their needs. Use clarifying questions when needed.
Being patient: Sometimes, seniors struggle to express their thoughts verbally. Be patient and give them the time they need.
Using language they understand: Avoid using complex terms and phrases they may not be aware of or know about.
Actively listening: Pay attention to what they are saying and let them talk as long as they want to. Sometimes, all they want is to have someone listen to them.
Not treating them like a child: You should avoid talking down to them or treating them like a child. It is vital to remember they are your parents or grandparents and deserve respect, even when you do not understand why they did something or behaved in an unexpected manner.
Showing love and compassion: Sometimes, all a senior wants is love and compassion from family members.
Maintaining eye contact: It is important to maintain eye contact throughout the conversation.
Offering advice or choices when relevant: Your loved one may want your opinion or advice when making decisions. Provide them with different options and your advice, but allow them to decide what is best for them.

Role of Family in Coordinating Medical Care for Seniors

Active family members can take a role in assisting with medical care for their senior loved ones. This involves:

Providing emotional support
Acting as a liaison between healthcare providers and the loved one
Explaining things to them in terms they understand
Offering them options and choices about their healthcare
Letting them make healthcare decisions
Ensuring they get to appointments on time
Ensuring they have the healthcare they require
Ensuring they have the assistive devices they need
Providing reminders to take prescriptions using various technologies
Helping seniors maintain as much independence as possible

Emotional Support: How Family Can Help Seniors Cope With Loneliness

There are different things family members can do when they are concerned their elderly loved ones may be experiencing loneliness, including:

Planning more frequent visits
Taking the loved one shopping
Planning a weekly meal together
Getting the loved one a pet for companionship
Helping them connect with the local senior center and activities
Planning a family vacation together
Helping them maintain hobbies and interests
Helping them get involved with social activities, like a book club or gardening club
Teaching them how to use technology for virtual visits
Getting mental health counseling and elderly support when necessary
Participating in active family involvement in assisted living when helping them find a facility

How To Encourage Independence While Providing Care

When seniors need assistance with various tasks, it can be tempting to take over. However, this will discourage their independence. A better approach is to be actively involved as much as possible. If they need help bathing, assist them with that, but still allow them to do the things they can, like drying themselves off and getting dressed.

Other things you can do to encourage independence while providing care are:

Have them assist with day-to-day chores: Whether it is doing the laundry, cooking, or dusting, have them help with whatever chores they can still manage.
Make changes in the home: Take the time to make their home more senior-friendly, such as wall railings, grab bars in the bathroom, elevated toilet sets, and so on.
Let them make their own decisions: It can be tempting to want to make decisions for them but do not. As long as they have the mental capacity to do so, allow them to make all their decisions.
Encourage daily exercise: Physical and mental exercises help your loved ones maintain their independence. Daily walks, leg stretches, puzzles, and video games can all be beneficial.
Encourage them to remain active: Help your loved one maintain friendships, socialize, and participate in other activities they enjoy. This might involve providing transportation or going with them to different events and outings.
Get outside help: Do not be afraid to ask for outside help and guidance on how you can help your senior loved one without overstepping.

Find Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities in Arizona Today

When your senior loved one needs daily assistance or is recovering from an accident or surgery, help is available at Haven Health. We have assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities in Arizona that promote senior independence. Our caring and compassionate team provides the elderly support and assistance your loved one needs while allowing them to maintain their independence.

Contact Haven Health to arrange a tour of our facilities today.

Sources:

Pajer, N. (2021). Your Home Checklist for Aging in Place.

Talking With Your Older Patients. (2023).

The Role of Family Engagement in Resident Care in Senior Living and Post-Acute Care. (2024).