Making Life Easy For The Old And The Aged

Old age is that phase of life which is unique in itself. Its problems and ordeals are difficult to anticipate and understand. This is especially true for places like India wherein traditional practices for caring for the elderly are still in vogue. People rarely, if ever, take the help of old age homes or government assisted institutions for caring for their elders. In fact there is an anathema attached to these institutions and educated people fall prey to it.

Types of elderly care

Taking care of the old and the aged members of our family can be divided into three types:

·         Assisted living: This type of care can only be given to people who are still able to look after themselves. Herein the person is not totally dependent on another but requires some degree of assistance for normal day to day activities. It involves getting help for the elderly with regards to such things like:

a)      Grocery shopping,

b)      Cooking and housecleaning,

c)      Taking them to the doctors,

d)      Accompanying them to banks, post offices etc.,

e)      Taking them on vacations etc.

There are a number of organisations which even provide companionship for a few hours per day, especially to people who live absolutely alone, albeit for a fee.

·         Complete dependence: With age and age-related sicknesses, a time comes when elders are not able to take care of themselves at all. They become completely dependent on their caregivers and have to be

a)      Either shifted to nursing homes and hospices offering residential care,

b)      Kept under supervision of a competent nurse round the clock or

c)      Caregivers need to be employed in shifts so that they get proper round the clock assistance.

At this stage these people are not able to fulfill even the basic daily needs themselves and need assistance with eating, using the washroom, dressing, sitting, walking etc. Neurodegenerative sicknesses like Alzheimer’s, dementia or even Parkinson’s become common ailments and afflicted elders have to be taken care of properly with a lot of love, patience and compassion.

·         Home care-giving: In this type of elderly care, elders continue to live with their family among their children and grandchildren. As they gradually become old, the type of assistance required also changes from an

a)      Initial assisted living whereby members of the family look after their needs easily to

b)      Requiring full support and total commitment of the family members in carrying out daily tasks.

But home care-giving is a tough job and requires immense dedication, sincerity and commitment from that family member who has been entrusted with this job. Employing round the clock care-givers to provide the required home support for the elderly is a better option since then the onus does not totally fall on one family member.

Elderly care is that part of life which each one has to face. But in our youth, we tend to forget about the trials and tribulations that elderly people face. Hence it is important that all of us prepare for it and face it with the correct zest and attitude so that this stage too becomes an enjoyable part of our lives.