Many vulnerable people prefer to be cared for by friends and relatives at home rather than uproot themselves by moving to a care home. Eventually you may need to move them to a care home but many people prefer to live in their own place as long as they can. Staying in familiar surroundings is often beneficial to a vulnerable person’s health and wellbeing. Family and friends can drop by to assist them more easily and the vulnerable person will keep their independence. There are a few areas that you should consider when you decide to help care for a vulnerable person in their home.

Modification  The first consideration should be home modifications. There are many ways you can make the life of the person you care for easier by simple additions to their home. You should think about which areas cause your loved one to have issues. Grab bars should be installed in the bathroom for those who find it difficult to move around easily. Ramps and stair chair lifts could be helpful to people who find stairs difficult. Moving their bedroom and bathroom downstairs is another option. If you are concerned about possible accidents in their home you can install a panic button or emergency cord that alerts you or the emergency services if anything happens. Your local authority can help you with the home modifications or funding for them. Research what financial help is available in your area, different councils offer varying support.

Support  The next decision you need to make is whether you will need another set of hands to help you care for your loved one. Caring for someone is a large undertaking and it is understandable if you can’t manage it all. There are many areas you can acquire help in depending on what your loved one requires. It could be a simple as housekeeping services enlisted once a week to keep a handle on the household chores. Before you make a final decision on getting help with caring for your loved one, discuss the matter fully with them so they will be comfortable with the situation. If your loved one requires frequent medical assistance and visits, you will need to hire a care nurse to tend to them. If you check your and your loved one’s health insurance, you should be able find coverage for the cost of a care nurse.

Local Help And Support  Lastly you should make sure you consider what else you can do to care for your loved one. Caring for someone isn’t just about making sure they are healthy. Making someone you care for feel content and interested will help him or her as well. Look into local activities and programs that would benefit your loved one. Swimming is excellent exercise for a person who can’t move around easily or has a joint problem. Encouraging the person you care for to partake in regular gentle exercise will soothe the body and enrich the mind. Ensuring that the person you care for is active is one of the best things you can do. Even if it’s only a weekly game night with friends that you can drive them to, giving them independence shouldn’t be undervalued.

Author: Corinne Kemp – Health and Lifestyle Writer for a-okcaremonitor