What are some daily care tips for the elderly?

The most practical daily care tips for the elderly are never rigid and standardized actions according to the care manual. They are all small details that are fine-tuned according to the physiological and psychological habits of the elderly. They are not difficult to operate and can avoid many nursing conflicts.

I met Aunt Zhang's house upstairs a while ago. Her husband, who has mild Alzheimer's disease, always forgets to turn off the gas. Before, he replaced the smart stove and posted big-character posters. The old man felt that he was being treated as a fool and had a temper for several days. Later, his children found a man who was a soldier when he was young. The copper hanging bell used was tied to the knob of the gas stove. The bell would jingle as soon as the flame was turned on. The bell had to be taken off first to turn off the flame. The old man found it interesting. After using it for two months, he never forgot to turn off the flame. This is no more effective than a shoehorned smart device.

Many people think that using more expensive things for the elderly is more important. In fact, there are many misunderstandings here, and many nursing concepts are still controversial. Take calcium supplementation and exercise as an example. Half of the people on the Internet say that the elderly need to walk 10,000 steps a day and eat high-content calcium tablets to be healthy. The other half say that moving too much will damage the joints and prevent the absorption of precious calcium. In fact, both statements are correct, but they must be adapted to the actual situation of the elderly. A while ago, the children of Mr. Zhou in our community bought more than 300 bottles of imported inorganic calcium, and forced him to walk 8,000 steps a day to check in. As a result, within half a month, Mr. Zhou first had constipation and had to go to the hospital for an enema. Soon after, his knees hurt so much that he couldn't go downstairs. It turned out that it was his original regression. The joint disease worsened, and the meniscus was slightly worn. Later, I replaced it with calcium citrate, which costs tens of dollars. I only walked slowly for 20 minutes after eating every day, and then sunbathed my back for 15 minutes. The blood calcium level in the physical examination last month went up, and the knee pain was relieved a lot.

Compared with these adjustments in eating, drinking and behavior, the small details of psychological care are the most easily overlooked. Many people who care for the elderly are always afraid that they will be tired, and rush to do all the work. They say "don't do anything, I will do it." In fact, it is easy for the elderly to feel frustrated that "they are a burden on the family." Grandma Chen, who I used to take care of at home, didn't let her children touch anything. She would sit on the sofa in a daze every day and eat less and less. Later, I told her children that I deliberately left two small potatoes for her to peel every day, and pretended that she couldn't clean the table after meals so that she could help. Within half a month, grandma's spirits improved and she could eat half a bowl more.

There are also some trivial knowledge hidden in basic necessities of life that many people tend to get wrong. For example, when buying shoes for the elderly, they tend to choose shoes with soft soles that feel comfortable when they step on them. In fact, the elderly have poor balance, and soft-soled shoes deform too much when stepped on. They have no solid feeling under the feet and are prone to sprains. It is most suitable to choose shoes with a heel about one centimeter higher, a slightly elastic sole but support at the arch of the foot. There are also things to pay attention to when cutting nails. Don’t cut them too bald for the elderly, especially toenails. Cutting them too short than the fingertips can easily lead to ingrown toenails. In severe cases, it can also induce paronychia, which is so painful that you can’t walk. Leave a length of about one millimeter just right.

Oh, by the way, many people now say that the elderly need to be more social to prevent cognitive deterioration. In fact, this is not necessarily true. Some elderly people are naturally quiet, and they feel panicked when they are forced to dance square dances and participate in community group activities. They raise flowers and plants at home, feed the birds, and live at their own pace every day. Feeling comfortable is better than anything else. There is never a standard answer when it comes to care. What is best for the elderly in your family is the best.