Home health care has become common nowadays. Whether it is due to the increasing cost of clinical and institutional health care programs or due to the technological advancements improving the capabilities of people taking care of themselves, individuals are taking care of their loved ones in their homes. It should be remembered that taking care of your loved ones by yourself is an enormous responsibility and will be difficult at times. When deciding whether or not to take care of your loved ones in your own home, or theirs, it is essential to thoroughly examine whether you will be giving them a better quality of life. One should be equipped with the proper knowledge and skills required to offer appropriate healthcare depending on the condition of the loved one.
ADLs:
ADLs, also known as aids to daily living, are products available to elderly or disabled individuals which assist in everyday activities. When daily activities become a struggle for a loved one, it becomes necessary to provide them the proper assistance and support in order to sustain a higher quality of life. They will require help with everyday activities such as walking, getting up from their bed or chair, dressing themselves, eating, cleaning or daily personal hygiene, taking medication and such. If an extensive knowledge of available aids to daily living products is acquired, it can help your loved ones to benefit from the appropriate assistance provided to them by these products. ADL's, alongside the utilization of programs offering lectures on home health care can eliminate the need of a professional nurse. It should also be kept in mind that in some cases assistance from certified nurse may be necessary. Aids to Daily Living may eliminate a significant need for a nurse but medication and regular doctor visits should not be overlooked. Equipment:
There is a wide range of equipment that can help in providing a quality level of living to those in need of it. These products increase the efficiency and safety of tasks attempted by those with partial abilities. The most popular room in the house to get a makeover is the bathroom. Bathroom safety products will help your loved ones to access and use bathroom with ease while significantly reducing the possibilities of a fall. Accidents in the bathroom account for a majority of injuries to the elderly. The opportunity to slip and fall is significantly higher than any other room in the house and the room itself typically has many hard edges. Bathroom grab bars should be placed near the toilet, in the shower, around the bathtub and any other location where an individual could lose their footing. Elevated toilet seats or commodes significantly decrease the effort needed to sit down before and stand up after using the toilet. For those who have a very difficult timing entering the bath tub or shower, transfer chairs can be very helpful in doing so. All of these products have come a long way in terms of their modern appearances. Typically these products have looked institutional. However, companies like Moen, Healthcraft, Drive and others have modernized the look of these products and made them easier on the eyes.
Once the bathroom is taken care of, focus should be shifted to the bedroom. Bed rails are available in a wide variety of function and style. They typically attach to the bed but other styles such as the Super Pole attach to the floor and ceiling in which trays and other accessories can be attached. Bedrails not only assist getting in and out of bed, but they also make it easier for individuals to position themselves and roll over. Bedrails offer a sense of security to the user as they know they cannot roll out of bed risking injury. These are just a few fall prevention products that are used on a large scale.
Walking is an essential exercise that provides strength and agility, two vital qualities for a long and healthy life. For this reason, rollators have become extremely popular in lieu of standard walkers. Rollators, also known as rolling walkers, allow those with limited capabilities to move more efficiently than they would with a four legged walker. Rollators may also function as a chair when needed and commonly include a basket allowing the user to transport personal items as needed. If walking is out of the question then the natural move is to a wheelchair. In the past ten years, wheelchairs have become significantly less expensive while at the same time becoming lighter and more maneuverable.
Benefits of Aids to daily living products:
As stated above, ADL's and mobility aids such as rollators and wheelchairs offer extensive aid, but monitoring by a caregiver is still a necessity. By utilizing the safety features of these products, you can very easily help your elderly loved ones enjoy a long and happy life.
