Elder Care Spotlight: Elderly Decline...

From walking alone, to using a walker, to being pushed in a wheel chair, to becoming bed-bound is a slow decline that happens to some elderly people. The rate at which this decline happens can be increased if there is a UTI, dehydration, malnutrition, neurological issues, depression, stroke, or medical side-effects from surgeries, medications, or treatments. It can be a big adjustment as a caregiver, and here are some things to consider...

The less mobile an elderly person is, the more complications there can be. This is why caregivers try to help them keep moving as long as possible. Even gentle movements in bed with the arms and legs can prevent stiff joints and contractures. Sitting them up at an angle is a prevention technique to keep lung congestion and pneumonia away. Oxygen and deep breathing can help the lungs as well. One of the biggest obstacles of becoming bed bound is going to the toilette. Bedpans, diapers, portable toilets, and bed pads are all helpful to use on this journey.

As mobility declines, so does mood. Depression shows up for elderly people in their slow departure from the group energy. They may want to sleep all of the time, or withdraw from family, friends, and neighbors to be alone. When things are really bad, they might refuse to eat or drink anything, or talk fatalistically, noting that nothing good is happening in their lives and they wish they weren't here anymore. As painful as this can be to hear, it is a sad reality for an elderly person who suddenly cannot move or do anything they once were able to do. The best thing we can do as caregivers is to Love them as much as possible. Love is healing and transformative, even if we cannot always see it.

As a caregiver, this process of becoming weaker can be very challenging because we want our elderly family members to be able to go to the bathroom, shower, and come out to the common areas of the home to be together for many years to come. Instead of forcing them to get up when they can't, this becomes a time to help them feel safe, comfortable, and Loved. It may be time to bring in a hospital bed for support, and a pressure-relief mattress to help avoid bed sores. If they don't get up again, then regular position shifting has to happen to avoid bed sores.

The slow decline of our elderly family members is painful to watch and hard for them to experience as well. It is most important that both the caregiver and the elderly person each have support. It is too easy to experience burnout, as caregiving is physically and emotionally exhausting. It might be time to seek counseling, caregiving support groups, or respite care if needed. Hospice Care is also available for all who qualify for this need. In summary, this time in our elderly family member's life is extremely challenging. As caregivers, we feel this pain as much as they do - just in different ways. Together, with compassion, kindness, and Love, we can come up with solutions to each phase of decline that can help us move forward with grace. There is no "one way" when it comes to facing old age and decline. Every person has to follow their own blueprint. All we have to remember is that with Love, all things are possible!