by Suzy Edris
There are millions of Americans who are over the age of 60. Some of them are still strong and can still work for a living. There are some of them however who are weak and forgetful. They are the elderly people who we often see in senior care facilities.
Senior care is never easy, better think again if you consider it is easy. You can ask the volunteers at senior care homes who find how taxing and serious the job is. A great deal of concern is for their health. All of us know that elderly people are more inclined to health problems because of their age and their weakening systems. In fact most of them have health problems that are being closely watched by their physicians. That is why caring for elderly people is very much similar as caring for young children because the same amount of attention, caring and caution is needed.
There are a few things that you should know about senior care before deciding to get into senior care.
1. Senior care is not easy
Senior care is hard work. If you are thinking that your job is just sitting watching over your elderly while they sleep the whole day, you are wrong. These people need little sleep. This is more so with those who are sent to senior care homes who will enjoy the chance given to them to socialize and to do some fun activities that they surely like to participate. Your job is like a supervisor except that you are asked to watch over the elderly people 24/7. Your tasks include taking care of their meals, their medicines and their clothing. What happened to those who are too weak to move? You will have to also clothe them, bathe them and even help them with their bowel movements. So hopefully it is clearer what senior care is to you.
2. Senior care requires more than one task
In most senior care homes a caretaker will be assigned from two to five patients per caregiver, so don’t expect to have only one charge to take care of. This is of course different if you were hired specifically for one patient or the facility that you worked in caters to the rich and the famous. Not only you are to keep an eye on your charges, but you will also be asked to make sure they take their medicines, their food intake and diet.
3. Senior care can be depressive
Lastly what you have to remember is that taking care of elderly people is basically you are in charge of their health. The challenge is greater especially taking care of those who have illnesses and health conditions. Not only you must know everything about their health problems, but also their medications. If you know a bit of first aid you will go a long way in senior care.
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