What are the key points of daily care for the elderly

The core essence is actually "supporting autonomy, risk prevention and control, and taking care of the body and mind." It is definitely not the more comprehensive the package, the better. This is my most profound feeling after 7 years of doing home care for the elderly.

I have met Aunt Zhang who lives in Xicheng before. When she just retired, she could still carry a vegetable basket to the morning market. Her son felt sorry for her age. He even did everything like pouring water, getting medicine and even folding clothes when she came home, just because he was afraid that she would be tired. As a result, within half a year, Aunt Zhang became dizzy even when she stood for a long time. She had to be supported when going out, and her energy collapsed very quickly. Later, when we visited for evaluation, we suggested that her son try to be "lazy". Even if the aunt was slow, we would let her peel an orange, pick up a courier at the door, and clean up her own dishes after eating. After two months, the aunt could walk downstairs by herself for 20 minutes and talk a lot more than before.

Speaking of which, we have to mention the issue of fall prevention that many people tend to ignore. You may not know that once an elderly person falls and fractures his hip, the survival rate in the subsequent year is only about half, so fall prevention is really one of the highest priorities in all care. I have seen many family members who feel that installing handrails in their home would appear to be "taking special care of the elderly." They hesitate to install them because they are afraid that the elderly will feel uncomfortable. As a result, the elderly slip and fall while taking a bath and break their bones, which in turn causes them to suffer even greater consequences. In fact, you can put it another way and say that this is the standard safety feature in new house decoration now. It is not specially installed for the elderly, and the acceptance of it by the elderly will rise immediately. As for the anti-slip mats on the floor, don't buy too cheap ones. If the back is not anti-slip, it will make you trip easily. Just stick them firmly to the door, bathroom, and kitchen. You don't need to cover the whole house with them, which will block the road.

Nowadays, there is a lot of controversy about the diet of the elderly. Some people think that as we get older, we are lacking in nutrients and take protein powder, calcium tablets, vitamins and various supplements. Some doctors from the clinical nutrition department say that as long as the elderly have normal digestive functions and can eat normally, there is no need to supplement these. Too much supplement will increase the burden on the liver and kidneys. In fact, both sides of this statement are correct. It depends on the specific situation of the elderly. If you have digestive disorders and cannot eat, then it is definitely good to follow the doctor's advice and take appropriate supplements. If you can eat normally, don't take supplements blindly. Some people always say that the elderly should have a "light diet", so they eat white porridge with water and boiled vegetables every day. I met an old man who ate like this for half a year and fainted due to hypoalbuminemia and was sent to the hospital. Later, he adjusted to one boiled egg a day, a small bowl of steamed lean meat, and more dark green vegetables. His blood lipids did not rise, but his face became much rosier.

In addition to these visible care, another point that is easily overlooked is emotional care. Don’t always treat the elderly as a “vulnerable group that needs to be protected.” Ask them for their opinions. Even if you have made up your mind to go to the park on the weekend, asking “Dad, how about we go to the botanical garden on the weekend?” is much more comfortable than directly informing you, “We will take you to the botanical garden on the weekend.” There used to be an old man who always lost his temper for no reason, and his children were confused. After we talked about it, we found out that every time he bought something, he sent it directly home and never asked him what he liked. They thought he didn't understand. Later, every time before buying tea or clothes, his children took photos of two styles and asked him which one to choose. The old man's mood immediately improved, and his blood pressure was even more stable every time.

In fact, to put it bluntly, caring for the elderly is similar to caring for children but completely different. Children are gradually taught to be independent, while the elderly should try their best to help retain their original living abilities. Think more from their perspective, rather than copying any standard care guide.