Taking care of the elderly…

Old age is a sensitive phase; elderly people need care and comfort to lead a healthy life without worries and anxiety.

According to Gideon Schutte who is passionate about the well-being of our elderly, the majority of seniors would choose the comfort of their own homes when given a choice where to spend their last years. This is totally understandable due to the independent lifestyle possible in a familiar environment.

“The other side of that coin is that at least 30% of senior citizens require assistance with some part of their daily activities. If they are not living with a partner who could fulfil this task, there are a few options to consider in advance on how to deal with it,” he said.

“We are all familiar with the fact that getting old means various things to different people, but the simplest of daily tasks could become a huge obstacle in a physical or mental way.”

Initially, when the need for assistance arises with a post-hospital patient or an elderly person, it is normally a family member or friend who steps in to lend a hand and take care of whatever is required.

However, there are a few points which may become an issue if a family member needs to take care of their own on a permanent basis:
• They may already be tied up with their own responsibilities.
• They normally do not have the time to study caregiving properly.
• They tend to become impatient because they are familiar with the person and are directly and emotionally involved.

Gideon went on to say that looking after your own family or friends may work for a limited time and it’s fine for minor situations and not-so-serious cases. When this burden of caring for a family member becomes too heavy, the aid of a caregiver is considered as an alternative to frail-care facilities.

In addition to the choice between acquiring a caregiver at home or moving the patient to a frail-care centre, there is another very important aspect involved and that is to focus on the actual quality of care that is given. A lack of knowledge can cause irreversible damage.

“Firstly, the immediate caregiver should have adequate training and practical experience to be able to deal with a patient’s medical and physical condition – not just their weight but their temperament, personality and emotional needs. Giving a patient the basics and then leaving them in a room or in a wheelchair somewhere out of the way is not taking care of a loved one in anyone’s books,” he said.

“Secondly, family members should really anticipate the complexity of taking care of a loved one and conduct proper research on what would be in the best interest of the person in question. Caregiving is rarely discussed until the responsibility becomes a reality. This happens when the crisis appears at an unholy hour and very important decisions are made in a hurry, which sometimes do not end well, not to mention the time and money wasted.”

Thirdly, Gideon continued, people who have been independent all their lives suddenly end up in a wheelchair or as an elderly person, incapable to continue doing simple daily tasks due to a physical impairment. This is not only an obvious physical limitation; this person has to make amends mentally with the fact of being an invalid and/ or the fear of being a burden to their family and friends.

In many cases accepting assistance actually manifests as a major psychological problem and it could take weeks and months for a family to prepare a member to accept someone else in their space – even when that person is there for no other reason but to contribute positively to their quality of life. This takes time and the recommended route is to take baby steps to introduce a caregiver for a few hours one or two days per week before you progress to a scheduled routine that works for everyone.

According to Gideon there are various training institutes for caregivers in our country, and each has their syllabus of basic training which should consist of theory as well as practical examination. Then there are optional courses available such as specialising in Dementia or Alzheimer’s, or even a Certified Nursing course.

“When looking for a caregiver, the best advice is to start with the best you can afford and negotiate an hourly rate that works for everyone. Caregivers with the best quality training, practical experience and stable references are not costing much more than the ones without,” he said.

“Hindsight teaches us that it is worth doing some homework, spending some time and getting to know the applicants before you appoint them. Check out the references. Ensure they can communicate clearly and understand the applicable language for the intended patient. It is your right to ask about their previous experiences.”

If one could explain the fragility of an elderly person’s skeletal system, Gideon continued, you may understand that it only takes one fall or incident to have serious consequences, such as permanent back or neck injury. The top quality training facilities have very specific instructions in place on how to move a patient and assist with their mobility. There are no grey areas and everything has an international prescribed procedure in quality caregiving.

Something very important to remember with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, depending on the stage of the condition, is that they will continue to struggle getting used to a new environment as the part of the brain (hippocampus) that remembers or stores memories becomes non-functional. If at all possible, keep the person in the same place where they have been all their life.

“That said, professional caregivers are able to take on such a wide range of responsibilities and chores at home that the list is actually endless. It is not uncommon that this caregiver becomes not only a much-needed companion to the patient, but almost like a member of the family. Caregivers are a very special breed indeed and worth their weight in gold when you are fortunate enough to discover a good one,” Gideon concluded.