Elderly Care Weddington NC
Nearly 95 percent of elderly adults experience some degree of sensory loss. This is a fairly starting statistic and one that all caregivers should be aware of due to its implications for the health, safety, and wellbeing of these elderly adults. What may be even more shocking is that this prevalence does not just mean one sense that is getting weaker, such as low vision. 40 percent of elderly adults have problems with two senses, and 28 percent have problems with three, four, or even all senses. This can make a dramatic impact on your parent’s quality of life, as well as their ability to stay safe and healthy as they age in place.
As you look forward to your Fourth of July celebrations, be sensitive to the challenges and possible dangers that can come with your elderly parent’s decreased sensory abilities. Addressing these issues will allow the family to enjoy this special time together.
Use these tips to manage sensory loss during Fourth of July celebrations:
- Be particularly careful with food. Many families enjoy cookouts during their Fourth of July celebrations. While food safety is important for everyone, it is especially important for those who are dealing with sensory loss. Your parent might not be able to detect spoiled food with their nose or taste, which means they could consume bad food and get very ill. Practice careful food safety measures including refrigeration, not allowing for cross-contamination, and throwing away any food that is even slightly questionable.
- Bring headphones. If you are attending a concert or fireworks display that is set to music, your parent might not be able to enjoy it fully due to hearing loss. Bring along headphones that you can connect to your mobile device and stream in music. Some displays even have radio stations that stream the music that they are playing, allowing you to listen in even if you are at a distance.
- Be extremely aware of dangers. Fourth of July is a time when traffic is heavy, people can be reckless, and there are possible dangers that may not exist at other times. Be extremely aware of these. If you are walking to or from a fireworks display, keep your elderly parent away from any roadways and be vigilant about oncoming traffic that they might not hear. Do not allow them near spent or “dud” fireworks. Keep them away from the grill even if it has been off for a while, as they might not sense the heat in the same way and could suffer serious burns.
Starting elderly care for your aging parent with sensory loss can be a fantastic way to encourage them to stay active and enjoy the world around them, while still staying safe and healthy. Having an elderly home care services provider with them means that your aging parent can engage in activities that stimulate their senses, find ways to modify activities to appeal more to their senses even if they are compromised, and even avoid possible dangers associated with their sensory loss. This lets them stay more independent and enjoy a higher quality of life, while you have peace of mind that they are in good hands even when you are not able to be with them yourself.
