Key Caregiving Strategies to Employ for Your Loved One in Decline

Making decisions about long-term care can be challenging and taxing. Most people aren’t equipped to tend to their loved ones in decline, let alone make difficult decisions in times of extreme stress and turmoil. However, it may be reassuring to remember that you’re not alone in the caregiving process. Over 1.3 million Americans over 65 live in nursing homes, while another 6.5 million choose to age in place at home.

Whichever strategy you pick for your elderly or disabled loved ones, remember that planning and strategizing are key. Solutions and strategies that aid in monitoring health while maintaining senior safety and wellbeing will be critical as we emerge from the pandemic.

Here are the main decision-making strategies to employ when caring for an aged loved one.

Proactive Approach

Planning in caregiving will account for health strategies long before the need arises. While this approach requires immense foresight and planning, the payoff is well worth the effort. Some important decisions to make will include living arrangements. Is it more suitable for your loved one to age in place at home and where they are comfortable? Or would an assisted living facility provide maximum care when the older adult is at their most vulnerable?

Some other factors to account for our financial resources — does your loved one have enough put away to set them up for life? Close relatives of aged seniors might choose to add to retirement accounts or create an account that appreciates with time. Ultimately, the proactive approach requires answering these difficult questions to ensure their aged one in decline has the best quality of life possible.

‘Wake up Call’ Approach

It can be an unfortunate circumstance when caregivers have to make decisions in response to a crisis or injury. Accidents or mishaps happen, but lack of planning and care can exacerbate feelings of worry. According to Nature.com, this was particularly common during the pandemic, which increased the need for maintenance and supervision due to unforeseen circumstances. The best method to deal with unexpected situations is to plan out the strategy with great detail. You might find that you have unexpected healthcare bills piling up, with minimal finances to fund the expenses.

Consider selling your loved one’s home in this case, as it will free up cash to pay for expenses. Check out this calculator to estimate how much you can get for a home. Selling property is effective in reducing past burdens to focus on future investments. Plus, it’ll help with the downsizing that most seniors end up needing after many years of living in the same home.

Delayed Approach

This decision-making strategy can have a significant impact on an aged or disabled person’s condition. Perhaps you noticed your loved one’s deteriorating health, but it has reached a point where it has become challenging to deal with the essential care at home. This approach is usually employed for those in critical condition who are possibly nearing the end of their life. Some key caregiving strategies to implement here include access to excellent health care practitioners and being surrounded by friends and family. Provide the utmost care you can to ensure your loved one has a comfortable end-of-life period.

We hope this article illustrated the main caregiving strategies for aged or disabled loved ones. While elements and features in each plan differ, they stand united in that the priority is ensuring the best quality of life for your loved one. This can be achieved with the right resources, tools, and love and support from friends and family.

Do you wish to utilise case management systems for your loved one? Equipo offers the best healthcare programs to monitor and provide care. Call 800-482-9082 for more information today!