What are the daily care methods for the elderly

The core method of daily care for the elderly has never been to implement standardized procedures according to items, but to give priority to preserving the elderly's independent living ability and taking into account both physical and psychological comfort, which is more practical than any dogmatic nursing standards.

I have worked as a nursing specialist in a community nursing home for four years, and I have seen too many situations where copying online nursing guides is counterproductive. Last month, the children of Aunt Zhang's family on the third floor were afraid that the elderly would fall and bump into them. They put reading glasses, thermos cups, and remote controls all on the bedside of her bed within arm's reach. Housework such as changing quilt covers and wiping the table were all taken over and not allowed to be touched. As a result, Aunt Zhang secretly wiped her tears with us and said that she felt that she had become a burden to the family. Later, we suggested that our children deliberately "trouble" Aunt Zhang with handover hangers and folded handkerchiefs when doing housework next time, and asked her to help with the dough when making snacks during New Years and holidays. Within two weeks, Aunt Zhang's energy improved significantly, and she told everyone she could help the family.

There are often debates in the community today about whether the elderly should go out more and do more activities. One group holds a conservative view, believing that the elderly have low bone density and poor sense of balance, and are prone to falls and fractures when going out. It is safer to rest at home. The other group, those of us who are on the front lines, believe that as long as we make an assessment in advance and equip ourselves with a walker, even if we walk around the community on crutches for ten minutes a day, the benefits to cardiopulmonary function and emotional state will far outweigh the risk of falling. Uncle Li in our community broke his hip once before. His family was so scared that he would never go out again. He sat and watched TV at home every day. Within half a year, his muscles atrophied so much that he could no longer stand firmly. Later, we helped him do a muscle strength assessment and equipped him with a walker with a seat. Volunteers accompany him downstairs for fifteen minutes every day.

Many people still debate whether the elderly's diet must be completely light. Many family members feed the elderly boiled vegetables every day without adding any oil or starch, saying they are afraid of high blood lipids and high blood pressure. But in fact, the clinical nutrition department has long studied that the elderly's sense of taste has deteriorated so much that they cannot eat tasteless meals. In the long run, they are prone to malnutrition and reduced immunity. Uncle Wang, who is in charge of our post station, is diabetic. In the past, his children cooked vegetables and steamed grains for him every day. He secretly saved up his pension to go to the deli at the door to buy sauced elbows to eat. His blood sugar fluctuated and he couldn't control it. Later, we discussed with his family and allowed him to eat braised pork with sauce twice a week, and controlled it to less than 2 taels each time. We also adjusted the amount of staple food in other meals. Now his blood sugar is very stable, and Uncle Wang no longer has to hide food secretly, and he feels much better.

There is a lot of controversy over whether to install surveillance cameras and wear smart positioning bracelets for the elderly. Many family members feel that installing surveillance cameras can detect falls or sudden illnesses of the elderly as soon as possible for the sake of their safety. However, many elderly people feel that installing surveillance cameras at home is like being monitored and there is no privacy at all, which makes them particularly repulsive. The compromise method we often use here is to discuss it with the elderly in advance, and install it in the entrance and living room at most, and never touch it in the bedroom or bathroom. We also explain to the elderly that the smart bracelet only has one-click calling and positioning functions, and will not monitor chats. We don’t force it when he doesn’t want to wear it. After all, a sense of security is not only about not having an accident in the body, but also about being at ease mentally.

Speaking of these methods, they are actually nothing advanced. They are all based on the experience of dealing with the elderly every day. Taking care of the elderly can be difficult or difficult, and it can be said to be simple or easy. To put it bluntly, it is similar to taking care of a baby, but it is also the other way around - the baby must slowly teach him to learn to do things on his own, while the elderly must try to help him extend the time he can do things on his own. If you squat down more often and ask him what he wants, it will work better than following any care list.