Learn how to use the SMILE technique to help overcome caregiving challenges.
Stop for a moment to close your eyes and visualize yourself like this: You’ve spent most of your life providing care for and helping others – as a mother or father, in your occupation, through volunteering in your community, and as a grandparent. After a lifetime of living independently and being in control of all of your decisions, you have now aged to the point that you actually are the person in need of support with bathing and other hygiene tasks. Imagine the sense of fear, loss, and vulnerability.
If you’re taking care of an older loved one, it can help to place yourself in his/her shoes when dealing with caregiving challenges related to helping the person with personal care tasks. The struggles your loved one is feeling are real, and a little patience and empathy can go a long way towards fostering a sense of peace about receiving your help. Let’s face it: permitting someone to help with such personal services as dressing, bathing, and bathroom needs is unpleasant at best, and may feel as though dignity is ripped right away from the person if not handled sensitively.
Advanced Home Health Care’s experts in senior care Mount Pleasant and nearby areas understand these concerns, and recommend keeping the SMILE concept in mind to help these delicate circumstances feel more comfortable for both you and your senior loved one:
Safety: Adaptive products such as electric razors, grab bars, a bathtub chair and a handheld shower can help.
Modesty: Ensure privacy in the room and protect modesty as much as possible.
Independence: Empower older adults to retain the ability to make choices, to express their own personal style, and to do as much as they can independently.
Levity: Be accepting of imperfection. Make it fun.
Etiquette: Treat the person as a respected adult, with dignity.
Advanced Home Health Care’s trained, experienced providers of rehabilitation services in Mount Pleasant, IA and the surrounding communities offer respectful personal care assistance for seniors. Our caregivers are compassionate, fully trained, and background checked – so you have peace of mind in knowing that your older loved one is always safe and secure in our care. Some of the many ways we can help include:
- Bathing, dressing and other personal hygiene assistance
- Light household chores and laundry
- Meal planning and preparation
- Accompanied transportation for errands, appointments, and fun activities
- Mobility assistance
- And much more – customized to each person’s unique needs
Contact us any time at 800.791.7785 to request a free in-home assessment and to learn more about how we can help make life easier and more comfortable for your senior loved one.
