Bathing/Showering

As mobility changes, taking a shower independently can become a challenge. You don’t want to get the call that your mom or dad fell while climbing in and out of the bathtub/shower combination or slipped stepping into the shower stall. Grab bars offer some protection, but elder care aides are even better.

Elder care aides help your parents get in and out of the shower. If they need a shower seat, the caregiver helps them get settled and hands them the things they need. Should your parents need help washing their body or hair, their caregiver helps out.

After the shower or bath, the caregiver helps them out. If they need assistance with towel drying, that’s an option. They may also want the caregiver to help them apply moisturizer after their shower and that’s also possible.

Companion Care

Do your parents complain about feeling lonely or isolated? Companion care at home is important. Caregivers stop by to talk to your parents, play games with them, or join them on fun outings to museums, parks, and stores.

Errands

Your mom and dad no longer drive, so they rely on you to run errands for them. Have a caregiver stop at the pharmacy to pick up prescription refills. Caregivers can pick up groceries or household items like toilet paper and cleaners at a warehouse store.

Grooming

If it’s harder for your parents to get dressed, shave, and trim their toenails and fingernails. You can hire elder care aides to help with those routine grooming tasks. If they need help picking out suitable clothing for the day, that’s possible.

Housekeeping

How about having a caregiver help with housework? That’s one of the most popular reasons to hire elder care. Your parents cannot keep up with dishes, and the vacuum is too heavy for them to push around the house.

Caregivers can do light housekeeping chores like vacuuming, dusting, wiping countertops, disinfecting faucet handles, and sweeping hardwood floors. They can make beds and change sheets and towels.

Laundry

Have caregivers stop by each week to do the laundry. During that visit, the caregivers can change the bedding and towels, put them in the laundry, and make sure it’s dried, folded, and put away. If your parents have items that need to be ironed, that is also possible.

Meal Preparation

Have caregivers cook meals and snacks. Your parents work with their caregivers on meal plans and can even take them shopping for ingredients.

That’s just a sampling of the tasks elder care aides help your parents with each week. Options like oral care, toileting, and transportation to appointments are also available. Call an expert in elder care to schedule these and other services.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Mullica Hill, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660

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Itchy and Dry Skin

Dry skin doesn’t necessarily mean that there is an issue with your elderly loved one’s skin. However, if it isn’t treated, this could become an issue. Research shows that many elderly adults develop dry skin on their lower legs, forearms, and elbows. Their skin starts to get scaly and rough. This can create severe itchiness. There are many things that can contribute to itchy and dry skin including losing sweat glands, losing oil in the skin, stress, dehydration, and more. If your elderly loved one has itchy and dry skin and ointments or lotions don’t help, have them see their doctor for other treatment options.

Bed Sores

Many elderly adults have to stay in their beds for a long time. They might have a health condition that prevents them from getting up a lot or they may need to recover after surgery. Staying in bed for too long can cause bed sores. If you notice that your elderly loved one has red, darkened, or discolored areas on their skin and they have been in bed a lot, these could be bedsores. You can have your elderly loved one moved for a while and have them stay hydrated. If these things don’t work after a couple of days, you can have their elder care provider take them to the doctor.

Shingles

Research shows that about 1 million U.S citizens get shingles each year. If your elderly loved one gets shingles, they may be in a lot of pain and discomfort. Generally, this condition will last between 2 to 4 weeks. If you notice that your elderly loved one has a fever, general weakness, pain, burning, and a blistering rash, they could have shingles. They should be taken to their doctor for the proper treatments.

Skin Cancer

Your elderly loved one may develop skin cancer, as well. Thousands of elderly adults get skin cancer every year. If you notice any new moles on your elderly loved one’s skins or any changing moles, they should see their doctor for an assessment. The moles may be different colors, the edges may be rough or discolored, or they could even be painful.

These are some of the skin conditions that are commonly found in elderly adults. If your elderly loved one is experiencing any of these signs, be sure they get the proper assessments and treatments as soon as possible.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Mullica Hill, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. 1-800-493-5660

Sources
Medicinenet.com
Healthline.com
Msktc.org/sci
Cdc.gov

The post Signs of Skin Conditions in Elderly Adults appeared first on Attentive Care, Inc..