Caring For Elderly Relatives At Home: A Beginner’s Guide

The recent Coronavirus pandemic has, for many of us, put into perspective the fact that life is not endless, and we need to use our time wisely. Anyone with elderly relatives will want to spend more time with them while they still can, and help them to live their lives to the fullest. 

After all, life will probably never return to what we think of as normal after the pandemic, so we all need to start finding ways to adapt. If you want to spend time with your elderly relatives while you have the chance, then moving into their home could be the ideal way to make the most of the time you have left together. 

This transition can be a challenge, which is why we’ve created a beginner’s guide to moving into an elderly relative’s home and helping them to live their best life. 

Communicate With Your Relative

Remember that you are moving into someone else’s home: as such, it’s vital that you communicate with them throughout the process and find out if they are comfortable. If they are happy to welcome you into their home, then check that they are happy with your lifestyle choices, such as pets, social habits and diet. You should also talk to them about how much assistance they want so that you don’t become overbearing and overstep their boundaries. 

Help Them To Adapt Their Home

Older people can be resistant to change, meaning that they might not be comfortable introducing new technology and products to their homes. However, as they age, they will need new products to help them to get around, such as stairlifts. If you’re looking for a stairlift, you can get started by visiting adaptmyhome.co.uk. This Cardiff based stair lift company have a number of useful guides to help you understand the different types of stair lifts and also provide free consultations if you happen to be in the South Wales area.  Stairlifts are designed to help people with mobility problems so they can get around their home with ease. If this is something your relative struggles with, you should start enquiring. 

Offer To Pay Your Way

Set out a plan for how you will both handle the household’s finances now that you are living together. They might be willing to help you financially in return for your assistance, but make sure that the agreement is firm before you move in so that there are no misunderstandings later down the line. Where possible, try to pay for anything that you actively use, so that you can show them that you’re moving in with them to help, not just leech off of them. 

Find Out What They Like

You might think that you know your relative very well, but there’s a difference between seeing someone regularly and actually living with them. Learn about their likes and dislikes, so that you can make them the meals they enjoy, keep their possessions where they can find them and generally make their lives easier, rather than more challenging. When you learn about their preferences, you will not only make your relative’s life easier, but also rejuvenate your bond. 

Be Considerate 

Consideration is one of the key tenants of being anyone’s roommate, but when people move into the home of family members, they often forget to be as considerate as they should be. Make sure that you review your habits and check that they are all appropriate for a shared house, particularly if you’re transitioning from living alone to moving in with someone else. A little consideration will go a long way towards creating a harmonious living situation that you can both enjoy.