TAKING CARE OF OUR SENIORS

Published Saturday January 5th, 2008
Riverview This Week, Moncton This Week

Caregivers are family members or friends who care for a loved one at home, without any compensation. Most often, they are women caring for their husbands, or children looking after a parent. A lot of seniors still live at home, but experts estimate that 80% of the work is done by their caregivers.
Some caregivers do so by choice, others by necessity; all do it for love. While providing care at home is not a new phenomenon, social circumstances have changed over the last fifty years. Today, caregivers must conciliate their job and their responsibilities as caregivers, without neglecting their own health.
In many regions, there are support groups for caregivers. If you are in this situation, do not hesitate to contact a support group in your area. You will receive information, referrals, and support.
Support groups organize information workshops on different topics, like the services available in the area for help with housekeeping, finances, residential relief care, guardianship, etc.
Being a caregiver should not be a sentence, but rather a free choice. Knowing what resources are available, caregivers can fulfill their role in a balanced and healthy manner.
Canadians have one of the longest life expectancies in the world. On average, Canadian men live for 82.4 years and women, 85.8 years. Over the past few years in Canada, we have noticed a reduction in hospitalizations for hip fractures as well as improvements in functional health (vision, hearing, speech, dexterity"¦).
Canadian seniors consider themselves very healthy, both physically and mentally. This is great news concerning our elders, those parents, grandparents, and friends whom we love so dearly.
However, in spite of the positive trends regarding health, elderly people in Canada still face many complex difficulties regarding aging, and their quality of life tends to diminish with age.
Because health problems increase as we age, the elderly are more restricted in their activities than younger Canadians: 7% need help with everyday activities, like taking a bath, dressing, eating, and moving from one room to another, while 24% need help with tasks like preparing meals and housekeeping.
Older Canadians are also more prone to injuries and falls, which further limit their mobility and their independence.
Fortunately, there are more and more caregivers willing to lend a hand to our seniors. In 2002, 4.2 million Canadians cared for an elderly person on a regular basis. Caregivers play many different roles.
You are a caregiver if you help a loved one remember to take their medication, prepare their meals, assume the housekeeping duties, help them keep their appointments, run errands, etc. These acts, as simple as they are, can make all the difference.