Veterans Home Care Visits
As September is National Preparedness Month, it’s a great opportunity to talk about how people, including disabled or aging veterans should be as prepared as possible for any type of emergency.
It’s just not practical to be that prepared, but some aging veterans simply may not have the tools, resources, or information necessary to be as prepared as possible. Why could this be?
It isn’t much different than it would be for other elderly men and women. First, as people age, their physical capabilities will change, whether they are willing to admit it or not. That means what someone was able to do with relative ease one year may become more challenging and complicated when they move through their seventies and eighties.
Second, because of these physical changes, and because they occur slowly, it’s not always easy for some to acknowledge they’re having more difficulty with their agility or even balance. When someone is reluctant to admit their shortcomings or challenges, they aren’t likely be honest about their capabilities.
Suddenly, an ‘emergency’ might encompass more challenges for them than what had once been the case. An emergency for an 82-year-old veteran might involve a severe thunderstorm that’s bringing in high winds. If the windows in the veteran’s home are open, he will need to get around and close them as quickly as possible.
If he rushes around trying to get them all closed, guess what? He could be at an increased risk of tripping and falling. That could lead to some serious injuries.
How could he be more prepared in this type of ‘emergency?’
For one thing, in this particular scenario, the veteran could pay closer attention to the weather and if there’s a chance of severe storms, he might be more inclined to close at least some of those windows.
Another way to be better prepared is to rely on help. For example, if this veteran was relying on a home care aide for basic care, then that caregiver would be able to close the windows, and that would mean less risk involved.
There are numerous potential emergency situations that can occur on any given day. Most of us pay little mind or attention to them because aside from significant problems, we can manage them fine in stride.
That’s not always the case for seniors, including elderly veterans. This month, sit down and talk about different scenarios and find ways to help them stay safer within the comfort of their home. That may include talking about the prospect of hiring a home care aide.
For more information and to learn about veterans home care visits, contact Veteran’s Home Care at (888) 314-6075.
