Balancing an Elder's Sense of Purpose with Their Safety

Photo credit Zubair Kahn ...As caregivers, we walk a thin line between keeping our loved ones safe and helping to preserve their independence. One of my first experiences with this concept occurred with my elderly neighbor and first care recipient. Joe was in his 80s and lived in his own home. He was completely deaf, so to communicate with each other, he would speak and I would write on a large legal pad. One day, I hurried into his house at my typical visiting time and immediately sensed that something was off. Joe would usually sit at his kitchen table waiting for me to arrive, but this time there was no sign of him.  I feared the worst and ran down the basement steps since he’d fallen there before. Fortunately, he wasn’t there. I headed back upstairs, where I heard a rustling noise coming from his bedroom. Joe, whose gait was wobbly at best on a flat surface, was perched halfway up a metal ladder.  Continue reading on Agingcare for more insight into how we can help our older adults live with purpose yet still - we hope - minimize risk: Purchase Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories – paperback or ebook  *Incontinence issues? Try Egosan premium underwear for discrete, dignified protection. In an effort to support both existing and new customers, Egosan has a new promo code for the purchase of any Egosan product when checking out on Amazon.  Use promo Code: 20ELDERS and SAVE 20% OFF your entire first order.  &#...
Source: Minding Our Elders - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: blogs