Quality of Care for the Elderly

To ensure that the quality of care for an elderly person is sufficient, multiple areas must be addressed by the caregivers and the professionals involved in the person's life. Recognizing physical needs, such as nutrition and exercise, is a vital component of providing quality care for an elderly person. It is also important that professional advice is sought when any medical conditions interfere with the person's life. Emotional needs and similar issues also require consideration or an older individual can easily become depressed. Giving the elderly person suitable attention can lead to a high-quality level of care.

Nutrition

• An elderly person quickly becomes malnourished if his or her caregiver does not acknowledge changing nutritional needs. Older people often tend to overlook eating and need a competent person to supervise their habits. As people age, they also require specific types of foods to help them live healthily. Higher amounts of fiber, calcium and other nutrients are all necessary for older people.

Recreation

• Social connections are an essential part of providing quality care for an elderly person. Making certain an older person has some type of enjoyment in his or her life is especially important when a spouse passes away, leaving the individual alone. Elderly people who reside in a residential care facilities thrive when provided with activities. Even if participation is low, just having options is beneficial to their health.

Medical Needs

• Ignoring medical problems leads to discomfort and unnecessary emergency-room or doctor's-office visits. Regular check-ups and adhering to the doctor's advice ensures the elderly person stays fit and healthy in between visits. Maintenance medications and daily checks of problem areas such as blood pressure or sugar levels keeps illnesses at bay. Understanding that these responsibilities belong to the caregiver rather than the elderly person ensures nothing gets missed or forgotten.

Daily Living

• Being familiar with an older person's daily needs can make his or her life run smoother when there is someone else to help. Showering, dressing, eating and other daily living situations all become more difficult as a person ages. Having a caregiver assist with these activities offers relief and provides confidence to the elderly person. Regular assistance also reduces the possibility of an accident happening because of the older person being left alone in a risky situation.The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that, whenever possible, family members assist elderly people with their daily tasks.

Emotional

• The emotional needs of older people are often overlooked. Getting older, losing a spouse and facing mortality are difficult things to face. Children may grow up and leave, making the elderly person feel even more lonely. Providing companionship by encouraging the elderly person to talk about the past and any feelings about the present may improve his or her quality of life. An older person who seems to be always sad or melancholy may require a professional evaluation to see if medication for depression is needed.