How To Care For An Elderly Person

Apr 26, 2011 | By Kerry L Williams

Caring for an elderly person can be a rewarding experience, if you are prepared. Chances are, if you are having to care for her, she has lost some of her independence and abilities to perform activities of daily living without assistance. It is important to be aware of her deficits and make sure that she gets assistance with any task that she can no longer perform on her own. Admitting that she needs help may be difficult for her, so be sure to watch for signs that her abilities are depleting.

Step 1

Feed him food that he enjoys and on the schedule that he adhered to when he cared for himself. If he used to eat three meals a day with a snack between meals, keep him on this schedule. Provide assistance with feeding as needed.

Step 2

Toilet or change her soiled briefs every two hours, or more often if needed. If caring for an elderly person who is unable to bear weight, it is best to use an assistant device lift and transfer her from her chair to a bed, in order to perform this task.

Step 3

Bathe an elderly person two or more times per week. It is helpful if you have a shower chair or shower bed to avoid falls while bathing.

Step 4

Roll him every two hours while he is in bed, if he is unable to change positions independently, in order to avoid bed sores from forming. Alternate sides with each roll by placing pillows that are lined from under his shoulders down to his mid-thigh.

Step 5

Cover her with enough clothing or blankets to keep her comfortable. Elderly people tend to get cold due to a lack of blood flow and thinning skin.

Step 6

Monitor how often and productive his bowel movements are, and let his physician know if he goes more than three days without a medium or large bowel movement. Constipation and bowel obstructions are more common in the elderly.

Step 7

Give her all of her medications at the times that her physician ordered. There are certain medications that are not able to be taken together so it is important to follow the physician's instructions.

Step 8

Take him to visit friends and family when possible. Isolation is a common problem in elderly people and can lead to depression.

Step 9

Shift wheelchair-bound people every hour while they are in their wheelchairs if they are unable to shift their own weight as needed. This avoids pressure areas from forming. It is important that they receive breaks from their wheelchairs so you should move them to the furniture or let them rest in bed at times throughout the day.