How to Teach Youngsters to Assist Elderly Grandparents
Young children and their grandparents have a special relationship. However, children sometimes need a little help learning how to assist their grandparents as they age. These tips can help you show your children how to look after their grandparents and maintain a special bond.
Provide Age-Appropriate Explanations for Health Symptoms
For many young children, symptoms such as memory loss or tremors are scary or confusing. However, they quickly get used to them when they have an explanation. Be honest with your children about their grandparent’s health, and explain why certain symptoms exist in a way they can understand. As you do, make sure to mention how your children can minimise the effects of these symptoms, such as offering help with walking to the kitchen.
Children can also learn about their grandparent’s health issues by watching a professional care worker provide care for your loved one. For many seniors in Sydney East, live-in care is an essential component of ageing in place safely and comfortably. However, it’s important for them to have care workers they can trust and rely on. At Home Care Assistance, we extensively screen all of our live-in and 24-hour carers and only hire those who have experience in the senior home care industry. Our strict requirements ensure seniors can remain in the comfort of home with a reduced risk of injury or serious illness.
Encourage Them to Spend Time Together
Your children may be more willing to look after their grandparents when they already share a strong bond. Plan activities for your child and parent to do together, such as putting together a puzzle or baking a favorite recipe. These good moments form positive memories for your children that make it easier to provide help when it’s needed.
Professional care workers can often offer wonderful ideas about activities for children and ageing grandparents to enjoy together. One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide elder care. Sydney East families can turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality in-home care for ageing adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family carers who need a break from their caring duties.
Offer Suggestions for Help
Children often lack the experience to know what to do in caring situations. Offer your children simple and clear directions for how they can help with their grandparent’s care. For example, you could ask them to sweep and mop the floor after dinner, or you could let your children know you need to be aware if their grandparent tries to leave the house alone. Having concrete examples of what they should do allows your children to know their assistance is wanted and helpful.
Provide Praise and Encouragement
Once your children begin to take initiative, reinforce their behavior. Practice the art of noticing when they do something that helps their grandparent. For instance, you could thank your children for a job well done when they decide to clean up after breakfast. You can also mention how sweet it was to see them help their grandparent with a favorite hobby.
Explain How to Handle Challenges
Children may also be afraid to step in if they’re not sure what to expect. Older adults with certain health conditions may need assistance with daily activities, such as toileting or getting dressed, that your children aren’t comfortable with. Let your children know there are other carers available in the house to assist with things such as these, and show your children how to handle challenging behaviors such as agitation if their grandparent has Alzheimer’s disease. Being prepared may help your children relax as they learn how to assist their grandparent throughout the day.
Be a Strong Role Model
Your children are constantly watching you to learn how to respond to their grandparent. Avoid saying anything negative about your role as a carer to your children, and make sure to show them how you practice self-care. As your children learn from you, they may be more interested in taking on a bigger role in their grandparent’s life.
Teaching young children to look after their grandparents shows them the value of empathy and offering assistance to others who need help. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caring duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Sydney senior care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. Reach out to one of our compassionate Care Managers today at [hca_phone].
