Elderly Care at Christmas

December is finally upon us, with preparations for the festive period well underway. For those of us with elderly relatives requiring support with daily tasks, a little planning ahead will go a long way to relieving pressure, allowing the whole family to relax and make the most of the precious time together.

Preparing for Guests

Christmas is a time for family and friends to spend quality time together, with relatives often visiting for days at a time. For many elderly people, leaving the comfort and familiarity of their own homes is a rare occurrence. Some will find this nerve-wracking, even if they are going to a place they have stayed at many times before.

To help avoid any unnecessary concern for your guests, it’s worthwhile asking in advance if there is anything they are worried about or anything specific you can do to make sure they are comfortable and safe. Some easy preparations to address common concerns include ensuring bedrooms are warm enough, placing guests in rooms with easy access to toilets in the night time (with lights to guide the way), placing non-slip mats in the bathroom, and making sure you have their favourite breakfast foods in stock! It’s often the case that simply having the conversation is enough to stave off any niggling worries – allowing everyone to look forward to the festivities.

Respite Home Care at Christmas

For those with more significant needs, such as nursing or personal care, inviting a professional carer into your home for the holidays may be a more practical solution – ensuring your loved ones get the assistance they require at a time full of distraction.

For some, a short-term live-in carer can help relieve the primary carer of their care duties – giving them a chance to relax and appreciate this special time together. For others, assistance from a carer can allow an elderly loved one who would usually reside in a residential care home to spend a few precious days with their children, grandchildren and friends.

Alternatively, you may simply want someone to pop in to see your relative for a few hours to assist with personal care or meal preparation, or to provide companionship – particularly useful if you are away over Christmas.

There are different respite home care options available depending on your situation and requirements, from a few hours on a one-off basis to multiple weeks of full-time care. Respite care workers can help with a range of tasks from medication prompts, personal tasks such as bathing and dressing, getting around and meal preparation.

As Christmas is typically a busy time for care organisations, we recommend planning as far ahead as possible to maximise your chance of finding a perfectly suited, experienced care worker.

Some useful sites:

Supercares 

The Good Care Group

Ann Dec 2017