Caring for an older parent

Mum having a fall, Dad having a stroke, Gran developing dementia… all events that suddenly make us leap into action so that we adapt to caring for an older parent.

But how can families cope when they live a distance from their ageing relatives? Equally, when elderly relatives are living close by, we will still worry about them during the night, or during the day when they are alone.

Caring for an older parent

The specialist advice website www.myageingparent.com has published an online guide to the types of support and services which are now available to keep an eye on our loved ones – including the latest generation of support technologies that will help transform the way Britain looks after its ageing population in the years to come.

[quote]“We are very much at a crossroads,” says the website’s owner Deborah Stone. “On the one hand, we have moved away from what was the norm – large families living within close proximity. Modern living has changed this to smaller ‘nuclear’ families, with multiple generations, geographically spread across the world, leading hectic lives. On the other hand, we are ageing rapidly as a society and facing ever rising costs to care for that ageing population. Telehealth and telecare are being held up as the ways to bridge that gap. But which ones really work? The first thing to understand is that nothing replaces direct contact: personal calls and visits give you and your family first hand knowledge and understanding. However, that is not always possible… so how do we know, rather than hope, that our loved ones are OK each day? There are some tremendous gadgets and Internet technologies that promise great things, but for the older audience, introducing technology can be a barrier.”[/quote]

Here is myageingparent.com’s selection of ways to keep in touch:

Mobile phones
These can be a boon in everyone’s life, especially when going out, but we don’t all have the manual dexterity and eyesight needed to use a mobile phone comfortably. Check out simple phones from people like Doro. These can have a small selection of important numbers, or an emergency button which contacts a list of people that you set up.

Smartphones and tablets
While encouraging older people to start using email, Facebook, Skype etc offers enormous benefits, patience may be needed if the person has no background in computers. Focus on one thing at time over a reasonable period and keep re-enforcing the operation. Think about using the grandkids to introduce the technology: They may well be more successful than you! Tablets are generally easier for older people to use, as they are more intuitive.

Telephone monitoring
There are call services available, like “3rings”, which will get in touch with a person on a regular basis during the course of each day to check the person is well – and send the family text or email updates or alerts.

Personal alarm monitors
These are excellent for those prone to falls. Loved ones wear a pendant or wrist strap with a red button that can be pressed in an emergency. This is linked to a call centre and, if necessary, they will contact emergency services.

Clever new products are now being added all the time, and which can monitor the home (for CO2, room temperature, fire or water) or the person’s vital signs (body temperature, movement or heart rate) and let the carer or care service know.

Fall detectors
An increasing number of devices and apps will send out alerts if a fall happens – either in or outside the home, providing alerts and GPS positioning.

GPS monitoring
For families concerned about someone with dementia, GPS trackers can have boundaries set and alerts sent should your loved ones go outside the house or garden for instance. While there have been concerns expressed about the “Big Brother” aspect of this, many families will welcome the peace of mind these provide.

Concludes Deborah:
“We obviously now have the technology to keep an eye on mum or dad 24/7, but there are some caveats about how and when you introduce these into someone’s life.

It’s important to recognise that a service that gives YOU peace of mind may send a signal to your parents that you feel they are getting old and need care…. this may not necessarily be how they see themselves, so do tread carefully! None of this can ever replace a face to face visit.”

www.myageingparent.com

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Our Editorial Team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions may not always be the views of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under the direction of medical supervision please speak to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommnedations in these articles.

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