Taking the necessary steps to provide your loved ones with what they require as they age sets them up for success in their later years. You can accomplish this in a variety of ways. It can include taking the time to ensure that they are still doing the things they enjoy in life, that they are still focusing on their mental health, or even talking to them about incorporating an in-home care aide into their daily or weekly routine.

It can be hard to have the tough conversations about the changes our loved ones require in their senior years. However, the importance of personal care for our elders stems from ensuring that life does not slow down or become monotonous.

Here are 12 reasons why we should care for our elders:

1. They Are Family
The elderly do not appear out of nowhere; they are family. And you can’t just forget all the love, affection, care, support, and other things they’ve showered on you while raising you, your children, and making sacrifices to ensure you grow up to be a stable person. Since they have paid their dues, they are entitled to whatever care or attention they require.

2. They Are More Prone To Illnesses
It is true that the older a person gets, the weaker their body system becomes. As a result, older people are more susceptible to illnesses. Blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, and arthritis are just a few ailments that older people may get exposed to if they are not suitably cared for in their old age.
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3. They Give You An Insight Into Their Values
They’ve been through ordeals that you can’t even imagine. They have weathered the many storms of life over the years, and you can learn valuable life lessons from them. As a result, you can pay attention to what they say and learn from their experiences. We can discover more about the system they lived in and the values they held dear because of our association with them and make sure we care for these people.

4. They Need To Feel A Sense Of Purpose
Part of providing proper care for your elderly loved ones is giving them a sense of purpose so that they will always look forward to the days ahead of them rather than being filled with dread or uncertainty. It will alleviate their anxiety and fill their lives with contentment and joy in their later years. 

5. They Need To Feel A Sense Of Belonging
People become more detached from society’s trends and happenings as they get older because they lived in a different era, and the community changes daily. They may become disoriented as a result of societal events at some point. You can, however, maintain a sense of community and keep up with modern trends by associating with them regularly. You can help to maintain a social life for them, which empowers and energizes them.
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6. Their Time Is Shorter
We must accept that the more we grow, the closer we get to death and that we can never wish that away. The mere realization of this can have a significant impact on anyone’s psychology. We can, however, assist them in raising their spirits and making the most of the time they have left. It is an undeniable fact that the elderly require more care and attention.

7. They Teach Precious Life Lessons
Our elders are wiser and more knowledgeable than any of us. Their experiences amid life’s storms provide them with invaluable wisdom. They’ve come so far and learned so much; we owe it to them to learn from their knowledge and intelligence. So, be attentive to what they have to say and learn from them as much as you possibly can. 

8. They Have Made Sacrifices For You

Your parents have undoubtedly made sacrifices to ensure that you are in good hands from the moment you were born until you grew up to be who or what you are today. They have loved you unconditionally despite your blunders and triumphs. You owe it to them and to yourself to ensure that they are in good hands and that you reciprocate your love by caring for them or providing them with the same care they have given you.

9. They Need Peace Of Mind
It is never easy to watch your parents or a loved one age. It can be exhausting for both of you as they lose the ability to do one thing or another. However, by providing them with proper senior care, you can rest assured that you are doing everything possible to ensure they have what they require. You will never be sorry for having that peace of mind.

10. They Require A Higher Quality Of Life
As your loved one grows older, the amount of time you have with them becomes more limited and valuable. You want every day they have with you to be their best day, whether they have a month or several years left. All of this can contribute to a higher quality of life. If you cannot be with your loved ones at all times, a professional senior care service may be a good option. Make sure they meet your loved one’s needs even when you aren’t there, gives them the higher quality of life they deserve.
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11. They are human and need comfort
Nobody wants to believe that a loved one is in pain or suffering. They are entitled to comfort, which senior care will provide. Whether they require medication reminders, assistance with bathing and grooming, or another service from a caregiver, they must receive the physical and emotional support they need at this stage of life.

12. They are your parents or loved ones
You adore your aging parent or loved one and want nothing more than the best senior care for them. They can feel that love no matter what stage of life they are in at that moment. It enables them to live a higher quality of life until the end. Your unconditional love is the best reason in the world for looking for senior care for your loved one.

There will come a time when the elderly will be unable to function without care. The elderly may require assistance just as much as we did, even when we didn’t even ask for it. It will bring out humanity in all of us. So, listen to your elders if you have them at home. Speak with them. Make sure you spend some time with them to get to know them better. They’d be more than pleased.
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On average, a family caregiver will spend over 24 hours each week providing care to a loved one, although many report spending over 40 hours per week on care giving duties. Family care giving usually involves tasks above and beyond assisting with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing and eating, but also medical or nursing tasks that are typically performed by a nurse.

While family care giving can be a genuinely rewarding experience, the caregivers often face common challenges that leave them overwhelmed, anxious, and drained by their duties. Some of these challenges a family caregiver faces are:

1. Emotional and Physical Stress
Caring for chronic conditions likePartial paralysis or Alzheimer’s disease seems to cause the most emotional stress. The physical demands of caregiving can also take a toll, when the duties include lifting and helping with mobility.

2. Managing a Healthy Lifestyle
Social isolation can negatively impact both physical and mental health. Did you know that feelings of loneliness and disconnection from peers are associated with a wide range of health problems, including; Depression, Infection, Dementia, and Elevated Blood Pressure? Care-givers often find it challenging to develop strategies for social inclusion.

3. Financial Stress
Because care giving is a demanding activity, care takers can start to feel some financial strain, especially when caregiving takes a toll on finances. The medical bills, equipments, and the constant doctor visits certainly adds more to your financial strain.

4. Lack of Sleep
Sleep deprivation can be a big issue for a family caregiver, as often the family member must mould his/her sleep cycle while looking after the elderly.Lack of sleep can take a huge toll on a caregiver who is already feeling the strain of being burned from both ends.

5. Understanding Common Mental Issues
There are implications of aging but what about the mental health? Depression is by far the most common condition faced by many elderly adults. Care givers face the challenge of recognizing and addressing mental health issues like these. They need information on causes, treatments, prevention, and symptoms—and strategies for supporting their parents.

We all understand how life-threatening it can get if seniors forget to take their medicines on time. In the case of conditions like dementia, the help and guidance of the loved ones, or the caregivers, cannot be understated. Therefore, establishing a routine, among other things, helps avoid any medical mishap.

Here’s a look at several ways through which you can help the elderly remember medications.

1. Make a List
If you wish to assist your parent or relative, you must have a list of all the medicines they take. This list includes prescription medications as well as any over-the-counter medications or supplements. Maintain a copy of the list with you and leave the original at their residence. In case of a medical emergency, this list will help the first responders attend to the patient with care and caution.

2. Build a Routine
An easy way to handle multiple medications is to build a routine. Whether it’s brushing one’s teeth, taking a bath, or combing hair, everyone has a set pattern. Therefore, if your parent or relative takes the medicines regularly, as part of their daily routine, it forms a habit. For example, they can take their medications before or right after their meals. Just remember to check the prescription before handing out the medicines.

3. Buy a Pill-Box
Save the elderly the trouble of opening the medication from the original packaging every day, especially if there are multiple medicines to be consumed; buy a pill-box instead. It saves them time and makes it easier for them to keep up with the medications and when to take them.

4. Set an Alarm
Try the old-fashioned method of setting reminder alarms on their phone. This tactic will ensure that all the prescription medicines get taken on time, other than the daily supplements.

5. Make Use of Technology
Make yourself and your parent or relative familiar with the technology. There are several apps (or applications) available on the phone specifically-designed for medicine tracking. Just download the app on the phone, add a picture of the pill if possible, and set a reminder. It will help the elderly get comfortable with technology and also take their medicines without fail.

6. Draft a Calendar
You can either make a customized calendar or make additions to the original one. It not only helps track the medications but also remembers any prescription refills. Just make sure there is enough space on the calendar to write down the names of the medicines along with the time and the number of times they need to take them.

7. Give a Quick Call
Take five minutes out of your busy schedule to give your loved one a call and remind them to take their medicines. It takes only a few seconds, and this way, you can be sure that they’ve taken them without being constantly worried.

8. Associate Daily Activities
Elaborating on the earlier point of building a routine, you can try the association memory method. For example, every morning, when they brush their teeth, it’s a reminder that the next thing on their agenda is to take their morning pills. It is an effective way to stimulate their memory and encourage compliance.

9. Place Medicine Bottles at Designated Locations
Place the pill-box or the medicine bottles in a highly visible space to trigger the memory. Avoid placing them in drawers or cabinets and store them in easily detectable locations such as the dining table, the bathroom rack, or on the nightstand instead. It prompts memory and makes it easier for them to remember to take their medicines on time.

10. Get an Automatic Pill Dispenser
If your parent or relative isn’t familiar with using a smartphone, get them an automatic pill dispenser with an in-built alarm. It will sound a beeping alarm at the prescribed time and can be especially helpful for those with vision and memory impairment.

11. Keep Important Numbers Handy
Although this is old-school, it is essential. Maintain a list of all the necessary phone numbers that include the numbers of their doctors and neighbors. In such a case, when you cannot get in touch with them or there is a medical emergency, you will know whom to call.

12. Hire a Home Care Expert
If the mobility of the senior gets restricted, due to a predisposed condition or due to age, the next best thing to do is to hire a home care expert. They can monitor and report any medication problems, and they are also authorized to handle prescription refills.