How to Care for the Elderly

How to Care for the Elderly - In general Elderly people often have physical and mental health problems. Due to the deterioration of aging. It needs to be closely monitored. Both in terms of health issues and the environment around the elderly. Because these things affect the quality of life. Family members play an important role in caring for the elderly. Need to understand the problem. To properly care for the health and the environment of the elderly. As will be discussed later.
How to Care for the Elderly

Why care for the elderly is important ?

When older Many elderly people tend to feel tired and slow down. Some people may feel tired and do things in their daily lives. These symptoms are one of the health problems known as frailty in the elderly or frailty. Older people who suffer from this condition will feel weak, fatigue, and weight loss. Individuals in the family may notice that their elderly relatives suffer from the condition of frailty in the elderly. The following symptoms may occur if three or more symptoms are present, which may mean that the elderly experience the condition.

  • The body weight is reduced by 5 kg or more.
  • Fatigue Standing alone, or not holding hands.
  • Feeling very tired. Do not do anything.
  • The ability to perform various activities such as regression, exercise, home or other activities that were previously like, but do not like it.
  • Slower walking with a distance of 5 meters over 6-7 seconds.

It can be seen that symptoms of fragility in the elderly affect daily life. Make a trip to get dressed, get up from bed or go to the bathroom. They may fall easily. This condition may be due to a change in body function. People with health problems. The body changes and the condition worsens. The elderly are more likely to be depressed. Frequently infected. As well as recovering from illness or injury, it is difficult for family members to care for their relatives well and properly according to the principle of caring for the elderly.

How to care for the elderly ?

Elderly care is provided by the importance of the health and the environment of the elderly. To improve the quality of life. Care for the elderly is divided into two main categories: how to care for the elderly. And how to organize the environment for the elderly

How to care for the elderly The work of the body will deteriorate with increasing age. Elderly people need special care. The health care system for the elderly consists of taking care of organs and managing the health check-up and treatment from the hospital or health facility.

Eye Care


  • Elderly patients should be examined for eye health or eyesight. To cut the right eyeglasses. Include whether the risk of eye health problems. To continue treatment in case of eye disorders.
  • Should not the elderly smoke? Including not smoking when near the elderly. Because of the risk of retinal eye disease. Or cataract.
  • Eat fruits and vegetables in each meal to ensure that the elderly are eating properly.
  • Elderly people should wear sunglasses when exposed to sun. To care for the eyes.

Take care of hearing

Hearing loss is a health problem for the elderly. Which usually occurs gradually without realizing. Hearing loss affects the way you live. Listen to or follow important lifestyle advice. Cause other problems followed. Family members should take the elderly to hear about hearing. This will help diagnose the cause of hearing loss. And timely admission.

Oral Care

  • Should reduce the amount of food and drinks with sugar. Include these foods before going to bed.
  • Care for the elderly, brush your teeth at least 2 times a day using fluoride toothpaste. To prevent tooth decay.
  • Always wash after brushing. Do not rinse with mouthwash immediately after brushing. The mouthwash may wash the fluoride effect of the toothpaste.
  • Take care not to drink too much alcohol. Including no smoking. Because of the risk of oral cancer. And some more cancer.
  • Make frequent sips of chewing gum or chewing gum. Or ice cubes frequently to prevent dry mouth.

Foot Care

  • Wash your feet every day to prevent infections due to dirt that tracks the skin. This may cause irritation and infection.
  • Applying Foot Cream To reduce the roughness of the skin. Choose a cream for foot care.
  • Always keep your toenail short. To help walk.
  • When cutting nails should trim the nails straight not cut into the corner. As it may cause nails buried in the foot.
  • Keep your feet warm. They may wear socks at night.
  • Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight. Because the blood may not flow to the feet. Or cause cramps.
  • Use shoes made from soft or flexible leather material. To ventilate.
  • Avoid shoes made of plastic. Because the material is not elastic in the foot and does not vent.

Mental health care

  • Persuade elderly people to talk regularly. Or contact talk on the phone if you do not see each other.
  • May teach to use the Internet. To enable the elderly to do new activities while they are away.
  • Join the association or community. To do activities and interact with others more.
  • Plan to do activities with the elderly regularly.

Brain care

  • Provide good food and complete nutrients to eat.
  • Keep your weight in the standard.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Avoid alcoholic beverages. Do not drink too much.
  • Blood pressure is normal.
  • Manage the elderly to sleep adequately.
  • Talk to the elderly or visit. To create relaxation.
  • Try to make new activities as appropriate.

Stimulate the body

  • Take the elderly regularly. To reduce the incidence of serious diseases such as bone disease, diabetes, high blood pressure. Or cerebrovascular disease. It also enhances sleep, mood and memory.
  • Encourage the elderly to do more physical activity. Approximately 30 minutes each, by choosing the appropriate activities, such as walking faster, down the stairs, swimming, etc.
  • Let's take a little something.
  • Do gardening, do other rhythmic activities or activities that encourage walking and jumping.
  • Simple exercise Using a help desk.

Take care of urinary and excretory health problems

  • Make sure you drink enough water. Urinary symptoms can be aggravated by drinking less water.
  • Reduce consumption of tea, coffee, cola or caffeinated beverages.
  • Make sure that the medication is used to treat the urinary tract.

Manage vaccinations

Elderly people should be vaccinated. Because the body's immune system will deteriorate at age. Elderly people over 65 years of age should be vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal pneumococcal vaccine. Care should also be taken in elderly people to take medication in case of illness or disease. Others should take care of the elderly according to the advice of the doctor strictly. Should not stop the drug itself. If fear of side effects. Ask your doctor for advice.

How to organize the environment for the elderly ?

The environment is another important factor that affects the quality of life of the elderly. A good environment contributes to the safety and health of the residents. How to prepare the environment for the elderly should:

Secure house

  • In case the elderly need to be alone.
  • Install smoke detectors along the walkways, living rooms and kitchens, and those with boilers or gas stoves should be equipped with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide. Also test these devices regularly. Or at least once a month.
  • Choose materials for bathroom flooring that does not slip easily. And should catch the handle. To help the elderly walk more easily and not fall.
  • Keep the mess Do not leave it on the walkway or the stairs.
  • Install the automatic night light. To see the elderly at night. And go to the bathroom or up the stairs easily.
  • Reboot the cord to keep it. Check regularly for electrical and electrical outlets. If found to be defective. Should replace the device.
  • Elderly people may wear walking shoes in the home. Should not wear socks or walk barefoot.
  • The clothes worn by the elderly should be tightened to prevent falls.

Accidental fall

  • Overall health care of the elderly closely.
  • Organize home to improve the safety of the elderly.
  • Always check the stairs. Including inside and around the house.
  • Install a lantern by the way. To see the time to walk out at night.
  • Take the elderly to receive the vaccine. And medical treatment of various health problems, according to the doctor strictly recommended.
  • Take to the annual health check and check for vision and hearing.

Good Nutrition

  • Eat fruits and vegetables for 5 times a day with fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Ensure that the elderly drink water during the day.
  • Serve high protein foods in the right proportion. To strengthen the muscles.
  • Care should be taken to ensure that the elderly have enough vitamin D, such as sun exposure, dietary supplements. To make the muscles work effectively.
  • Try high energy drinks such as milk, milk shakes or smoothies. To prevent weight loss.

Problems and Solutions for Elderly Care

Elderly care consists of learning and understanding the correct care. In addition, caring for the elderly is an important issue for the family to prepare for, so older people often do not allow their family members to take care of themselves. Close relatives who care for the elderly and other family members should understand the cause and address the problem.

Elderly people do not like to take care of themselves. It may feel bad for family members to think that they need help with their activities or worry about becoming a burden. Because of the loss of privacy and the need to adjust the lifestyle. Some elderly people are often self-centered and anxious that they will become weak to allow their family to take care. Or worry about other expenses that need to be added for self care. Older, forgetful people often do not understand the reason why care must be taken. These are all problems. Family members should understand and learn the correct way to deal with them.
  • Consider what kind of help the elderly need help with. Include appropriate care.
  • Should find the right time to talk to the elderly. Choose a time when both parties are relaxed and ready to talk. This will help to open the mind and understand each other.
  • Elderly people should be involved in decision-making for self-care, such as choosing a family member who needs care. In cases where family members do not have time to care for themselves, the reasons should be explained to the elderly before deciding how to take care of them.
  • Everyone in the family should help convince older people to understand and understand the reasons for taking care of others.
  • Should not persuade or force the elderly to listen to the reasons should find a suitable opportunity to talk again later.

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