The Impact Grandchildren Can Have in Senior Care

Author

Visiting Angels - Pueblo

For more information about the author, click to view their website: Visiting Angels - Pueblo

Posted on

Oct 06, 2021

Book/Edition

Colorado - Southern Colorado , Colorado - Western Slope

Eldercare is typically considered the responsibility of a spouse or adult child for many families across the United States. While more millennials are becoming primary caregivers, the increasing role of adult grandchildren in caring for elderly relatives is often overlooked.
But the relationship between a grandparent and grandchild is extremely strong and can have a huge impact on the overall care and quality of life for seniors.
Senior Home Care Tips for Grandchildren
Grandchildren of all ages from toddlers to teenagers can be an important part of a caregiver team. Here are a few suggestions for how grandchildren can assist with elder care at various ages and stages:

Babies, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
At first glance, it may seem there is no place for babies and infants in elder care. While children these young are unable to offer any direct caregiving support, there is still a role very young children can play.

The elderly is at high risk for social isolation. Bringing a young child along when you care for mom and dad can instill joy in your parents lives and help improve their social and emotional health.

Seniors who receive regular social interaction including engagement with young children show signs of better physical health, including healthier blood pressure, a decreased risk of disease, and delayed cognitive decline.

Watching or supervising a young grandchild can be an excellent diversion for grandparents who need some limited supervision but are otherwise able-bodied and sound of mind. Ask mom and dad to take care of the baby or play with your preschooler while you manage some of your parents' needs in the background, such as cooking meals for the week, cleaning the home, sorting medications, or paying bills.

Grade-schoolers and pre-teens

Children at this age can perform minor eldercare tasks. Grade-schoolers may be trusted to bring water to grandma or grandpa or fetch the TV remote or a pair of eyeglasses.
Pre-teens can take on some more responsibility, but it should still be limited to simpler chores such as wheeling grandma or grandpa around, helping put on jackets, shoes, or sweaters, and assisting with phone calls or computer needs.
Give your children time to bond with grandma and grandpa with more fun activities. Encourage them to exchange stories, watch movies, read books, and work on puzzles or play board games together.


Teenagers and young adults

Older grandchildren can begin to take on more caregiving responsibilities. Younger teenagers can be excellent sitters for grandparents who need minor non-medical assistance and supervision for short periods.
Having something specific to do together, such as watching a movie, playing board games, or reading to each other, also helps grandparent-sitting go smoothly. Spending time together as grandchild and grandparent can be an excellent bonding experience and give parents a well-deserved break.
As teenagers grow into young adults, they can take grandma or grandpa on a walk, keep them company on errands, or go out for a drive together. Older and more responsible grandchildren can escort their grandparents to a doctor's appointment, help with medication reminders, and even assist with mobility, grooming, or toileting needs. Young adults especially those whose parents are deceased may also decide to hire professional in-home care support when needed for their grandparents.

Grandchildren Can Be an Asset in Senior Care

Grandchildren have the potential to be an asset, not a liability, in senior care. Their very presence can have a positive impact on your parents mental and physical health. When grandchildren become older, they can take on increased caregiving responsibilities and provide additional physical and emotional support.

Other Articles You May Like

Spotlight: March 2024 Newsletter - Celebrating Our Caregiver of the Year Nomination

Greetings,In our last bi-monthly newsletter, I mentioned we had nominated one of our caregivers Jane, as the Caregiver of the Year for Visiting Angels nationwide. We were notified at the end of January, she was selected to move onto Round 2 of nominations! This round, we must submit video testimonials about Jane from the client, family members, office staff, and our owner Karen. By the time you read this, we will have submitted the video testimonials and will hear back by March 21st if Jane is a semi-finalist for this prestigious award. The winner of this years Caregiver of the Year award will be announced at the Visiting Angels 26th Annual Conference being held in June and will receive $5,000. There are many team members deserving of consideration for Caregiver of the Year, yet Janes exceptional qualities really stand out. Id like to share an excerpt from the written nominations highlighting Janes contribution.Jane has worked with our team for almost three years. She is dedicated to her work and committed to her clients. She is always on time and never calls out, no matter the weather conditions. The dignity of those in her care is a top priority for Jane while maintaining a positive attitude. Shes willing to go-with-the-flow in any circumstance. For example, when her client resists wearing oxygen and doesnt remember why they need to wear it, Jane knows how to navigate the situation with grace and patience. On the other hand, she holds her ground with difficult clients, and even though it may be uncomfortable, she handles it with respect and kindness.Nominating a caregiver of the year is not just a process, its an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary dedication and compassion of someone whose role is to serve others. Being a part of this journey of recognition has been rewarding because it highlights the invaluable contributions of caregivers nationwide and the importance of acknowledging their efforts. Its been a reminder of the power of appreciation and the significance of recognizing individuals who demonstrate excellence in their work. Im pleased to be a part of a nationally known and locally owned company, like Visiting Angels, who understands the importance and joy of recognizing others. In the end, nominating a caregiver is about acknowledging the countless acts of kindness and the immeasurable impact caregivers have on the lives of others. Whether or not Jane wins nationwide, she is our Visiting Angels of Medford, MA Caregiver of the Year 2023, and that is something to celebrate! I look forward to giving you another update regarding the award in May. All for now,Abby

Causes of Elderly Knee Pain

Most of us think that joint issues, and specifically knee pain, are an inevitable part of aging. While some aches and twinges may likely be age-related, knee pain is not a foregone conclusion for seniors. Diagnosing the cause of knee pain in elderly adults and properly treating knee pain when it does occur can help avoid or at least mitigate its discomforts. In this post, well review some of the common causes of senior knee pain and knee pain treatment options.Causes of Elderly Knee PainSome issues that can cause elderly knee pain include:Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to affect the knee. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative process where the cartilage in the joint gradually wears away. Rheumatoid arthritis is another form of arthritis that can affect the knee, although it tends to affect younger adults as well.Tendonitis. Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon generally caused by overuse or repetitive movement. Running, jumping, and cycling can all lead to tendonitis in the knee.Mechanical issues. Mechanical issues is a fancy way to say that some sort of injury has led to knee pain. This could include a fall or blow to the knee, a sprain, or a twist. Sudden knee pain in elderly adults can most likely be attributed to some sort of mechanical issue.Old injuries. Old injuriesfor example, an ACL tear from high school that was seemingly completely healedcan begin to hurt again as we age. Tissue that was damaged in the past is more susceptible to instability, strain, and degeneration.Elderly Knee Pain TreatmentThe treatment for elderly knee pain depends on what is causing the pain. Your primary care doctor or an orthopedist can help you determine the cause of your pain and then work with you to come up with a treatment plan.Some common treatments for elderly knee pain include:Medications. An over-the-counter pain relief medicine may be enough to calm your knee pain. Your doctor may also be able to prescribe a medication to treat the specific cause of the pain, especially if the pain is caused by osteoarthritis.Physical therapy. Strengthening the muscles around the joint can help relieve knee pain. A physical therapist can help with specific exercises that will address the cause of the pain, particularly if it is tendonitis or a mechanical issue.Injections. There are a few types of injections that can help with knee pain, again depending on the cause of the pain. A corticosteroid injection can help reduce pain and relieve the symptoms of arthritis. A hyaluronic acid injection can lubricate the joint and help reduce pain when moving. Platelet-Rich Plasma injections, a newer treatment, have been shown to reduce inflammation and promote healing for many different conditions.Surgery. Arthroscopic surgery is typically the first type of surgery considered to repair injuries to the knee. It is minimally invasive and the recovery period is relatively short. Partial or total knee replacement surgery is an option when the pain or damage to the knee has become too much to bear. The replacement knee joint (or parts) are made of metal alloys and high-grade plastics so they last a very long time.Medicine and technology have come a long way from the days when knee replacement surgery would require months of bedrest and rehab. Additionally, there are many more options to alleviate knee pain than there were in the past. If you or your elderly loved one does begin to experience knee pain, know that it is not something you simply have to live with, and there are many treatment options that can provide relief.To learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at (877) 268-3277. 

Dangers of Staying Home Alone as a Senior

Aging in place is a goal most seniors fully embrace. And no wonder. Staying in a home you love and maintaining a sense of independence is incredibly important to them. But the desire to remain at home, especially living alone, has to be balanced with the realities and pitfalls of what that decision might mean.1. Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death for seniorsWhen youre young, its easy to regain your footing and balance if you trip on something. When youre older, thats not the case. As people age, maintaining a sense of balance becomes challenging: reaction times get slower, and bones become more brittle.All of these factors create a high risk of falling and injury. The fact is a third of all seniors living in the United States fall every year. Around half of the falls that send seniors to the hospital happen at home. Some seniors living at home alone wear medic alert devices to call for help if they fall, but many dont for various reasons. Falling and injuring yourself is bad enough, but being unable to get up to call for help can mean hours of pain that could be avoided if the senior was not living alone, and assistance was close by.2. Malnutrition is a real concernFood is both a comfort and a necessity. Unfortunately, older loved ones living alone often find making dinner is more work than they can handle. For instance, instead of eating a well-balanced meal, they may just snack on odds and ends they have in the pantry or refrigerator. In addition, many seniors take medications that come with dietary restrictions that further limit what they can eat. In many cases, those factors combine to make eating a regular meal a serious challenge which can result in a loved one living alone simply choosing to skip meals. Over time, it can lead to debilitating malnutrition.3. Accidental prescription mishaps can harm seniors healthMost seniors take a variety of medications to manage chronic medical conditions. And while taking those medications as prescribed can help them live longer healthier lives, seniors living alone may forget to take them, or may take too much or too little, which can lead to serious health consequences.4. Isolation can cause mental health problemsPeople enjoy spending time with others they love and care about, not to mention, they get mental and health benefits from it. And while most families try to visit older loved ones as much as possible, other obligations often get in the way. The resulting isolation can result in depression, anxiety, and loneliness that can be as bad for a seniors health as obesity or an extreme smoking habit.While living alone can be empowering, the benefits can diminish over time. If you notice the situation isnt working as well as it used to, know there are senior living options that will help keep your senior safe, well-nourished, will provide them their proper medication, and will encourage them to be socially active. Eliminating the dangers of staying home alone as a senior is easier than you think.MorningStar Senior LivingIf your loved one lives far from family and friends, it could be time to move into a senior living community near their adult children where theyll have the companionship of fellow seniors and a compassionate service team. At MorningStar Senior Living, a 24/7 team is dedicated to offering care and hospitality services that meet each residents social, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

Local Services By This Author

Visiting Angels - Pueblo

Non-Medical 2628 North Elizabeth Street, Pueblo, Colorado, 81003

Visiting Angels is committed to providing the very best in Alzheimer's care, personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, errands, companionship, respite care and help needed to remain at home safely. Our clients are able to interview their caregivers who have passed both state and federal background checks, drug screens and reference checks. Caregivers at Visiting Angels are trained to our standards, they understand the aging process and are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of our clients.