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l Spring 2015
Space
Making
5. Layout and design should be centered
on convenience.
Make sure your loved one's bedroom is near a bathroom,
preferably right next door. Hallways and common areas
should be well lit at all times, especially during night hours,
to prevent slips, trips and falls. Invest in nightlights to light
pathways and install proper railings to ensure that they
will be able to move around with ease, such as a rail to get
up from the toilet, and bed railings if necessary. This will
allow you to sleep better because you won't be jumping
at every creak of a floorboard, thinking they're in trouble.
A daily routine will make everyone happy. Try to make
sure that dinner (or at least their dinner) is ready at the
same time each day, and that they know when you'll be
home and when you'll be out. Think about how your time
is spent now. Is someone always home? Is everyone gone
all day? For how many hours? You don't want your loved
one left lonely, especially if they're dealing with the onset
of a disease. Make sure they're never left alone in the
house for more than a couple of hours and if they enjoy
outings, invite them to tag along with you! Make personal
time for just the two of you as well, whether you sit down
to have a cup of tea or go for a walk after dinner. You'll
appreciate the extra time with them and it will bring you
happiness and fulfillment to know they're enjoying their
time spent with you.
7. Reduce clutter and discuss
storage options.
Your parents will not be able to bring everything they own
with them, so sort the belongings that will come along
from what will need to be given away or put into storage.
Some of your things will need to be stored as well, such as
the guest bed, if your parents prefer to bring their own or
need an adjustable bed. Reducing the amount of clutter
you have in your home will not only make them happy,
but it will reduce your overall stress. If you have children,
make sure you talk with them beforehand and go over
designated playing areas and times and where to keep
their items, such as a toy chest or a closet for their games.
Shoes, sports equipment and anything else that normally
gets left out or on the floor should be put
away so your loved one
doesn't get hurt. And if
you're a parent, I'm sure
you can admit that even
you have tripped over a
ball or two, bumped your
shin and gotten irritated.
Reducing clutter and
storing the non-essentials
will create harmony and
balance for everyone.
It isn't easy to adjust to, but caring for your elderly loved
one will be worth all the time and effort. We hate facing
the inevitable, but if we can make the days easier and more
fulfilling for the people that took care of us, I think we would
all choose to do so.
6. It's all about time management.