We give and receive gifts year-round. As we age and arthritis starts to creep into the fingers, though, unwrapping a paper-wrapped gift with tape all over it becomes more difficult. I became aware of this, earlier on, with my grandparents and parents. And now, it's becoming a reality for me as well. So, today, I'm presenting a few tips that may help you or the seniors in your life. image courtesy of freestocks via Unsplash Gifts wrapped with paper are easier to unwrap if less tape is used, allowing enough room for the finger to slip into the overlap and tear the paper. Place gift inside a decorative box with gift tissue or confetti to conceal the gift under the lid. No tape required! Place gift inside a decorative bag with gift tissue over the gift to hide it. No tape required! We all like to surprise the recipient of our gifts, but there are easier presentations than taped up paper. This is not only easier for the senior for unwrapping purposes, but it's also easier for t...
Most of us have a senior we will need to care for eventually. And we'll be seniors ourselves one day, Lord willing. And the need for senior care can happen practically overnight. So, my first advice to you is to start preparing for this transition before it happens.
First of all, I would recommend that anyone over the age of 60 not adopt a new pet. Where 60 is not very old - I know because I'm there myself - most pets can live 15 to 25 years, which may be beyond the senior's ability to care for that pet. Or worse, the senior may pass away or need to move into assisted living facilities before the pet dies, leaving the pet in a bad predicament. If a senior has already adopted a pet beyond the age of 60, preparations should be made with the senior as to what should happen with the pet if such an incident occurs.
Beyond pet care decisions, many of us are not skilled to take care of our parents, other family members, or friends who are suddenly faced with the need for elderly care. In this case, you and the senior will need to plan for situations such as illnesses, injuries, memory loss, or falls. How does the senior want to be cared for based on their ability or inability to pay?
Image courtesy of Danie Franco via Unsplach
Any signs of aging should be addressed as soon as possible so seniors will have a chance to recover quickly and have a quality of life - such as memory care, physical therapy for falling, and continence. Because once the senior is no longer able to recover, their quality of life is very slim without proper attention. A painful fact is that the decline in health and inability to recover means the senior is dying. However, the death may not occur quickly. Death may actually be a slow process, so careful, quality care will be required at this point. The attention you get for your beloved senior will be a trial-and-error process that will likely require some unpleasant decisions on your part in order to get the right caretaker(s) for them, whether that's in-home (usually private pay with assistance from long-term care plans), nursing home (Medicare, Medicaid, or private pay with long-term care plans accepted) or assisted living (all private pay with long-term care plans accepted).
A long-term care plan is an insurance that helps pay for long-term health issues and can be purchased to cover a variety of care options, such as bathing, meals, and household renovations such as ramps, grab bars, and more.
Finally, put on your thick skin. You're going to get advice whether you ask for it or not. You'll make plenty of mistakes; learn to forgive yourself and move on. Your loved one will not like most of the decisions you make for them even if it was discussed prior to them needing this senior care. But this is all yours, so own it, and accept whatever happens along the way. The sooner you can get help, the better. The road leading to the help you need will not be paved. It's a bumpy ride at first. Eventually, though, you'll reach the smoother road that lies ahead - still with plenty of curves and detours once you've reached this point.
May God keep you in his loving care.
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