Senior Care Rock Hill SC
If your aging parent is like many seniors, they spend a considerable amount of their time in their living room. This is where they can relax, enjoy activities and hobbies, and entertain friends and family. If their challenges and limitations keep them from being able to enjoy their living room to its fullest extent, you should not immediately try to find things that you can do for them. Instead, look for tools that will encourage your parent to maintain more independence so that they can continue to live the lifestyle and quality of life that they desire and deserve.
Some tools that you can use to encourage more independence for your parent when they are spending time in the living room include:
- Chair organizer. Virtually everyone has misplaced the remote a time or two in their lives. It is frustrating and upsetting, and can be even more so for an elderly adult who is coping with cognitive limitations and challenges. Even if your parent is not dealing with these issues, not being able to find the remote can cause them to move around looking for it, possibly doing movements such as bending and moving furniture that could put them at higher risk of injury. A chair organizer is a simple fabric pouch that slips onto the arm of a couch or chair. You can then put anything that your loved one might need in it, such as the remote, pad and pen, reading glasses, or lip balm.
- Additional lighting. For seniors who are dealing with low vision, extra lighting is essential. Equipping the room with several layers of light enables your parent to customize the lighting to their specific needs at any given time. This can mean having the overhead light on when visiting with friends and family, but then switching to a table lamp when relaxing in the evening, or adding a floor lamp when doing needlecrafts.
- Communication technology. Especially if your aging parent is alone for long stretches of time, being able to communicate effectively is key to keeping them safe and secure. You do not want your parent to have to go into another room every time that the phone rings or to open the door to see who is standing on the porch. Instead, consider adding a phone to the living room or giving them a mobile device. A security camera system that includes video and two-way audio also gives your parent control over who they open the door to, keeping them more secure.
If you have been trying to find ways to encourage your parent to be independent, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting a senior care arrangement for them. A senior home care services provider can be in the home with your elderly parent as often as is needed to create a customized approach to care and assistance tailored to their needs and challenges in a way that manages their limitations and fulfills their needs, while still supporting them in doing as much for themselves as they possibly can. This helps them maintain the highest level of mental and emotional health possible as they age in place.
