Senior Independence Encouraged by Caregivers in Santa Clarita
Offering home care for a senior is not necessarily about meeting and attending to their every need, but it is also not about letting them do it all themselves. If you are a caregiver for an aging loved one, it is important to understand that a big portion of the role of a caregiver is to help your 
elderly loved one maintain a high level of independence, while also encouraging an active lifestyle.
It is important to help your aging loved one understand that you are there to help, not take over their lives. There are many cases when a senior may begin to feel overlooked when caregivers begin making all the decisions. However, by allowing the senior to be part of the decision making process, you can avoid these feelings and help to enhance their lives while aiding decisions and daily activities.
There are a number of different ways that you can encourage your senior to be independent, while providing them with in home care. The first step in this process is to encourage your elderly loved one to be as self-sufficient as possible while recognizing their cognitive and mobility concerns. You should never belittle the elderly person or make them think they are less capable than they truly are. This is not a healthy mind set for seniors and it may lead to cases of depression in a senior when they are not allowed to live and exert their independence.
Another way that you can encourage your senior loved one is to encourage them to prepare their own meals or at the very least, have them determine what they are going to eat on a daily basis. You can offer assistance with cutting and preparing the ingredients and even doing the majority of the cooking, but allowing them to be a part of the preparation will help them to feel in control and needed.
The fact is that you can make a senior loved one feel needed and important by asking them to complete simple tasks, such as putting away towels or folding their laundry. When the senior individual feels important and in charge of their life, they will also have a high quality of life. As a caregiver, this is a crucial part of your daily duties.
If you believe that your senior loved one may benefit from the services of an in home care provider, contact Comfort Keepers Santa Clarita today. They can help encourage your loved one to maintain their independence while being available to help with day to day tasks.
Comfort Keepers
23900 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-287-4200
