So many of us have busy lives, especially when the combination of work pressure, children, social responsibilities and family make it difficult to find time for ourselves—let alone notice what may be happening to an older family member.
It’s easy, especially when we are harried with the seemingly unending responsibilities that life presents, to think that retirement offers a happy respite for our parents, grandparents or aging relatives. That’s not always so, especially when one is left alone after the death of a partner, or when depression, isolation or illness prevents them from socializing as they are used to.
I’ve noticed lately, with many of my clients, how loneliness and isolation can happen slowly, and be so subtle that no one realizes it—even the person it’s happening to. It may be even harder for the families to spot, and isolation can easily turn into depression, or worse.
Older adults often skip meals because there isn’t anyone to share it with. Maybe their partner was the one who always prepared the meals, or their eyesight has deteriorated to the point where cooking can be difficult.
Sometimes depression can be misdiagnosed as another illness; low motivation or slow reaction times can be attributed to dementia instead. Some family members may be under the impression that depression is a normal part of aging, and don’t see that there’s anything they can do to prevent or change it.
There is a solution that benefits everyone. A caregiver can help in many different ways, even if it is just with making and sharing meals. Companionship is a wonderful way to build morale, and at Right At Home, we make sure that each client is matched with a compatible caregiver.
Sometimes caregivers can help in small ways; losing one’s eyesight is a common result of aging, which can make driving difficult. We recently helped out a 91-year old woman who was losing her sight, but was more upset about missing her social life. We were able to provide a caregiver to drive her to her engagements, which greatly improved her wellbeing.
Bringing a caregiver on board to assist with the care of aging family members can make life better for the whole family. We’re here, and we want to help.
For advice and consultation, please feel free to contact Karen Fazio at Right At Home, Irvine by calling (714) 730-2647 or via email at rahirvine@att.net.
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