Taking care and helping your spouse when they get old or sick is very physically challenging. In addition to this, it will also add a mental burden which can lead to you being emotionally exhausted.
Another thing that won’t be on your side is your age. Taking care of your loved one will be something you will want to do, but old age will not be an ally. Caring for an ill spouse is something that many people claim is especially hard. This type of responsibility will, without a doubt, take a toll on you.
But we are here to give you advice on how to care for your spouse while being kind to yourself at the same time. Our tips will show you how to give your best to your loved one but without doing everything by yourself and leaving all the responsibility on your shoulders.
3 Ways Seniors Can Care for an Ill Spouse
Here we are going to give you three ways you can take good care of your spouse while also taking care of yourself. Our tips are:
- Find a home care agency or a referral service
- Don’t do it yourself
- Senior residences
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Find a Home Care Agency or a Referral Service
Our first suggestion is to hire a caregiver to help you with the tasks regarding your wife or husband. In addition to helping with your spouse, they can also help with house chores. Most people think that caring for a spouse only includes giving them medicines at the right time. It’s much more than that. It involves helping them with bathing, grooming, eating, making sure they sleep well, making doctor appointments, and looking after them in general.
Furthermore, you will also need to take care of the chores, such as laundry, cooking meals, and much more. If a person older than 60 tries to do all of this by themselves, it will be both time consuming and stressful. The best thing to do would be to contact a home care agency to provide you with a caregiver. This way some of the responsibilities will be on someone else, and you will have more time for yourself.
Don’t Do It Yourself
Many seniors have to look after their spouse after they undergo major surgery. When the situation is like this, you will most likely have to move heavy objects, such as a wheelchair. But you shouldn’t force yourself to do too much. If you have to do the heavy lifting, do it slowly, and don’t touch what you can’t move. Looking out for your health is essential. What you need to do is ask for help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, family, or neighbors for help. Doing it all by yourself is impossible.
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Senior Residences
When illness strikes, sometimes a senior’s home is not ideal. There will come a time when your wife’s or husband’s illness will progress too far for you to be able to help them. When this happens, you should look for a facility that can provide all-day care for them.
If their illness is a serious one, you will want them to be surrounded by medical staff. Of course, being separated from your spouse will be hard, but you will need to think about what’s best for both of you. Most of these facilities allow visits, and you can take full advantage of this.
In the end, both of you can apply and become residents of a care facility. Your friends and family will also be able to come and spend time with both of you.
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