Having access to important information is the key to helping seniors stay knowledgeable as they age, but older adults sometimes face barriers to getting the information they need. Your elderly loved one might have difficulty reading a newspaper if he or she has impaired vision, or he or she might get so frustrated trying to read an article online that he or she just gives up. Looking out for your loved one’s information needs ensures he or she gets the facts whenever he or she needs them.
1. Accurate Health Information
Learning more about new and potential health issues they may face prepares seniors to address various challenges. However, searching for health information online can sometimes lead to inaccurate results. Talk to your loved one about how to identify reputable websites. Your loved one should also seek out information from other trusted sources, such as his or her doctor, instead of relying on information he or she gets online.
Identifying reliable sources of information is just one of the challenges older adults may encounter in the golden years. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality homecare. Edmonton families trust Home Care Assistance to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably.
Insight into Financial Planning
Figuring out what to do with retirement funds or how to budget for a new major expense is the type of problem seniors often need assistance with as their lives change. Financial planners are professionals who are able to advise seniors on how to manage money. Seniors might also turn to trusted sources on finance-related matters to help them make smart money decisions.
3. Help Identifying Community Resources
Some of the information your loved one needs is closer to home. Your loved one might need help finding information about local public transportation routes if he or she no longer drives. Or your parent might want to look for a senior center where he or she can enjoy a meal a few times a week with his or her peers. In-home caregivers are excellent resources for helping seniors find out more about services offered in their communities.
Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Edmonton seniors can depend on.
4. Updates on Local News & Current Events
It’s getting harder and harder to identify which news stories are real and fake these days. Your loved one should be wary of getting news from social media. Instead, help your parent find ways to use his or her favorite reliable resources. Your loved one might want to use a magnifying glass to read the newspaper, or he or she could visit the paper’s website. Staying on top of what’s happening in the world gives your loved one topics for conversations.
5. Information that Makes It Easier to Manage Life Decisions
The need to make decisions comes up all the time in the senior years. For example, your loved one might feel the need to weigh the options for his or her future care or evaluate his or her living situation. Your parent might also wonder if he or she should get a pet or remarry in the golden years. Giving your loved one help with finding resources for specific life decisions can help him or her feel confident no matter what he or she decides in the end.
6. Assistance with Understanding New Technology
The Internet, computers, and smartphones provide handy ways for seniors to get the information they need fast. Yet aging adults tend to have difficulty figuring out how to use new devices. Make sure to give your loved one information about how to troubleshoot common technology problems. If necessary, offer to walk your loved one through basic tutorials until he or she knows how to use these tools independently.
Living alone at home in the golden years can present a few unique challenges. Trust senior home care professionals to help your senior loved one maintain a higher quality of life while he or she lives with an illness and performs the daily tasks of living. If you need professional home care for your loved one, our Care Managers are just a phone call away. Reach out to Home Care Assistance today at (780) 490-7337.