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Caring and communication

3 min read

Caring and communication
Around three in five people in the UK will find it necessary to care for an elderly or disabled loved one at some point. This can be made easier by bearing in mind a few simple principles and pieces of advice
At some point in our lives, many of us will find ourselves caring for an elderly loved one – most likely a parent. This is never easy; it can take an enormous toll emotionally and physically, and the financial challenges can sometimes seem insurmountable.
Often one of the hardest things is striking a balance between your parent’s desire to feel independent and in control of their life, with the need to ensure that they are safe and their health needs are being attended to. Sometimes this can create tensions and arguments, only adding to the stress of an already difficult situation. It is important here to make them feel that they are being listened to, and that they know you only have their best interests at heart.
The same applies to financial issues. In order to cover the costs of their parent’s care – including bills and medicine – many people will investigate options such as selling the family home. The most important thing here is communication – it is vital to make sure that everyone involved, including other siblings, is aware of what’s being proposed and singing from the same hymn sheet. And it is important to try to find a solution that accommodates everybody’s best interests, along with an acceptance that compromises will often need to be made.

How to gain independence

As people get older and their mobility becomes restricted, it is often necessary to make adjustments to the home they live in – whether that’s yours or theirs – to make their everyday life more easy. Often this involves making bathrooms more accessible by installing things like grab rails, powered lifts or walk-in baths.
Once more, communication is vital here – it’s important to make sure everyone who lives in the house knows exactly what the changes will involve. And it’s important to involve them in the consultation and planning process. Again, very often one of the most frustrating things for older people is the feeling that their voices are not being heard. Remember, it doesn’t cost anything to listen to them.
For many people, one of the most challenging aspects of ageing is not so much the decreased mobility problems that accompany getting older, but the privations and restrictions on independence that those problems often cause. That’s why it’s important for washing and bathing solutions to be designed and fitted with sensitivity to the existing layout, design and decors of people’s houses, and for them to be tailored around the lifestyles and specific needs of the individual.
Reader’s Digest work with Bathing Solutions, who were one of the first companies to specialise in the supply and installation of bathrooms specifically designed for the mature customer and who pride themselves on being able to make a real difference to the lives and well-being of our customers.
All of the walk-in showers and baths we recommend have special features designed with safety, security and simplicity at the forefront to bring you complete peace of mind and relaxation in the bathroom, providing the most stylish, contemporary and luxurious solution to bathing difficulty.  
Reader's Digest customers can claim a £250 voucher towards the cost of any order they place with Bathing Solutions using code PARA022. 
To find out more information and discover which bathing solution is right for you, fill in the form below to request a call back from one of our bathroom advisors and receive our free brochure. You can also call us on 0808 273 3655 to ask a question or request a FREE no-obligation appointment.
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Our articles on mobility issues such as versatile solutions, the grants and financial support available when facing mobility issues, rediscovering the pleasures of bathing and adapting your home to maintain independance and cope with mobility challenges may also be of interest to you.
 
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