Seniors and disabled individuals tend to spend a significant amount of their time within the comfort of their own homes. This might be the case for various reasons. They may prefer being at home, or their limited mobility prevents them from going out. They might just be uncomfortable with unfamiliar environments. No matter the reasoning behind this, it’s good for everyone, including seniors receiving home care, to leave their homes and go on an outing of some sort.
In fact, getting outside more often can help prolong a senior’s lifespan. Elderly individuals get a chance to see the outside world and can socialize with others.
With elderly and disabled individuals, however, it’s important that they have appropriate activities to do when going on outings. Not everything will be safe for seniors or disabled individuals to partake in, so you may need to put in extra thought and effort into such planning.
Continue reading for some ideas and help on how you can plan a pleasant outing with your elderly or disabled loved one.
Consider Your Loved One’s Needs and Interests
When you go on an outing with your loved one, you want to make sure they’re safe and comfortable. That said, choose activities and events that accommodate their needs. Otherwise, they won’t be able to enjoy their time outside of the house. The last thing your loved one wants is to go out only to discover that it doesn’t work well for them.
If your loved one uses a wheelchair, then make sure that wherever you go and whatever you do is wheelchair friendly. Look up the places you’re interested in going to ahead of time to make sure your loved one can properly navigate the property.
If your loved one is uncomfortable with crowds, then avoid picking an activity that involves crowds or a lot of people. Instead, choose an activity that’s more intimate and allows you to spend more one-on-one time with them.
Additionally, choose activities that reflect their interests. For example, choose music-related outings for those who enjoy music. If seniors enjoy art, consider bringing them to an art museum. Catering to their interests not only means there’s a greater chance they’ll enjoy the outing, but it can also increase their eagerness to leave their home.
Don’t Go Overboard
As aforementioned, seniors and disabled individuals may not go out often and instead spend most of their time at home. In such a case, then you shouldn’t plan a day full of activities to do with them outside. A packed day can easily overwhelm them, especially if they’re comfortable in unfamiliar places. Rather, plan a few activities that don’t take up the entire day and aren’t too far from their home.
Be Flexible and Prepared
Don’t plan a strict schedule for your outing, but rather, allow for flexibility. Having to follow a schedule can turn what’s supposed to be a fun, enjoyable day into an unnecessarily stressful outing for you and your loved one. You can still create a schedule, but make it a loose itinerary that is flexible, giving time and space for any necessary breaks and schedule changes.
Along with that, be prepared for different situations. If you’re planning on being outdoors, make sure your loved one is dressed properly. During the winter, make sure they are dressed to stay warm and cozy. Bring extra sweaters, a hat, and gloves just in case. If it’s warm and sunny out, make sure they will be protected from the sun.
Additionally, things don’t always go as planned. It’s unfortunate but true. Knowing this, make sure you have something else planned in case your original plans fall through.
Pack the Essentials
If your loved one is going to be away from their home, you’ll want to make sure they have all their necessities. Otherwise, they won’t have a successful, enjoyable outing. Bring any necessary bathroom supplies and medications they need. Consider packing snacks and water for them as well, especially if they need to take any medications with food.
Home Care for Your Loved Ones
While some elderly or disabled individuals prefer to stay within the comfortable, familiar environment of their own homes, there might be people who want to spend more time outside but don’t for various reasons. They might not have access to transportation. They might not want to go out by themselves but have no one to accompany them to partake in activities and events. With home health care services from Assisting Hands Home Care, we can take care of those problems and provide quality senior care services, too.
Within our senior care services, we will assign a caregiver to your elderly relative. Caregivers will provide your elderly loved one with home care and other assistance as needed. To do this, we will create a care plan customized to the client’s needs, ensuring they receive the help they need and deserve. From help with activities of daily living (ADLs) to meal preparation to transportation, our caregivers are dedicated to caring for your loved ones. Our caregivers will even be companions to clients, accompanying them to do fun activities and go on outings.