Caregivers in Palm Beach Gardens FL

As a family caregiver for your elderly parents, one of the best ways that you can enhance your time with them and ensure that they are living the active, engaged, and exciting quality of life that they deserve is by going on outings with them. Getting out of the house and participating in activities together, whether it is a walk around a botanical garden, a visit to a zoo or aquarium, or a daytrip to a historical site of interest, outings are the perfect way to get in some extra physical activity, enjoy some sensory stimulation, and strengthen memory and cognitive functioning through engaging conversation, social interaction, and learning new things. While you do everything that you can to make sure that any activity that you do with your aging parents is safe and secure, there is always the possibility that you will experience an accident, injury, or minor illness while you are out and about. This does not have to completely ruin your day, however. By having a high-quality first aid kit available you can address the issue quickly, effectively, and efficiently so you can get back to your day.

When building a first aid kit for your outings with your parents it is important to remember that what works for one group of people will not necessarily work for another in terms of preparedness, and that you need to make sure that your kit contains the types of items that your parents, and you, might actually need during your experience rather than those things that are recommended or that come in premade kits. Carefully evaluate your parents’ most frequent needs, as well as where your outing will take you, and pack your kit with the items that would address those needs the best.

Some things that you may want to include in your first aid kit for outings with your elderly parents include:

• Alcohol wipes. Even minor cuts, scrapes, splinters, and bites can turn into serious infections, particularly for seniors whose skin is already thinner and more vulnerable than that of younger people. Having alcohol wipes in your kit allows you to clean an injured area effectively and quickly, removing germs and protecting the skin.

• Bandages. A few strip bandages in several different sizes are a staple in all first aid kits, but before you just grab a box and go, make sure that you check the ingredients. Many people, particularly older adults, have sensitivities to latex, necessitating special bandages. If your parents have particularly sensitive skin they may react strongly to the adhesive, even experiencing tears in the skin when removing the bandages. If this is the case, consider bringing gauze and a skin-sensitive tape in place of traditional bandages.

• Over the counter medications. A simple headache or stomachache can ruin your whole outing, but so can heartburn, allergies, or an irritated throat. Bring along small packages of over the counter medications that can soothe these issues so that they do not end your day. Also bring along lip balm, eye drops, and lotion to soothe uncomfortable dry lips, eyes, and skin, particularly if your outing is to an indoor venue that will be using drying climate controlled air.

• Tweezers. Tweezers are a highly versatile tool that can save you from many an uncomfortable situation. From removing splinters and other debris from injuries, to holding an alcohol wipe while using it, to removing ticks and other pests, these can help you to ease pain and hasten recovery for many different injuries and situations.

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Professional Caregivers in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff at Assisting Hands Home Care at 561­-829­-3080 Today.