Health consulting
Taking care of an elderly person is sometimes a real challenge and a test of your character. With the appropriate approaching a senior also gives a lot of satisfaction. If the following characteristics describe your personality, then a job found through our agency should be easier for you.
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Features of an elderly caregiver:
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Ease of making contact - this is a key feature. On your way you will meet different people with different personalities. Good contact will be needed not only in relation to the senior, but also with his children and grandchildren.
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Adaptability - each senior has his own habits and rituals that he carries out during the day. Adaptability in the new situation will be beneficial both for you and for the senior.
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Patience - another key trait of a caregiver. A guardian from Ukraine looking for a job in Germany, with the help of our agency, has to be patient. Working with a senior may prove to be a challenge for you. There may be rebellion when taking medications or with meals. Therefore, you must persuade the senior to perform these activities with respect and care.
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Empathy and honesty – a senior may have concerns about contact with the new person. Thanks to the empathy, it is easier for you to make a close bond with an elderly person. A sincere smile on your face and kindness towards senior will facilitate mutual relations. For an elderly person, the kindness from another person is very important. They often struggle with loneliness.
What does the working day of a caregiver look like?
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Responsibilities in the work of a caregiver depend to a large extent on the health of the senior. When planning classes, we also take into account the habits of a given senior citizen to make him feel comfortable. Below, we present an example of a day at work for a caregiver:
1. Morning toilet - depending on the patient's health condition. Sometimes you only assist in the bath. The bed ridden person must be washed and dressed in bed.
2. Drugs - as recommended.
3. Preparation of breakfast and shared consumption. The caregiver's duties also include shopping and cleaning, washing and ironing. These are duties that are usually performed after breakfast, when the senior is resting, watching TV or reading books. At fixed times, the caregiver prepares and serves the dinner. The caregiver must also remember to hydrate the senior regularly.
4. The caregiver usually has got his free time in the afternoon. During this time, the senior is busy with his favourite activities, he is visited by someone from his family or taking a nap.
5. Dinner and evening toilet - at 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. the preparation and serving of the dinner is made. After the meal, the caregivers help with the activities of the evening toilet and going to bed.
Above, we briefly described the working day of an elderly caregiver.
Age-related diseases.
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Age-related diseases are more and more diagnosed in the aging population of Europe. The number of people reaching old age is increasing, and therefore more ailments appear, leading to minor or major problems in everyday life functioning. Seniors are increasingly complaining of memory problems, labile mood, vision and hearing problems, heart and circulatory problems, and breathing problems. According to research, only 5 to 10% of seniors do not struggle with any disease.
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The most common diseases of the elderly:
• Alzheimer's disease - manifested by memory loss, reasoning and orientation. It is one of the most common diseases in old age. Exercises will play an important role in improving the memory of the senior. Patient and his family identity data should be repeated. It is helpful to browse through photo albums and recall from past.
• Parkinson's disease - This is a disease of the nervous system. Symptoms include hand tremors and speech disorders. The number of people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease continues to increase. A person with Parkinson's disease requires help with daily activities such as getting around, getting dressed or eating. They should not carry any items, in particular glasses and plates. Caring for a sick person requires patience, self-control and understanding. Regular exercises are also important.
• Hypertension - the most frequently diagnosed disease of the cardiovascular system. The incidence of the disease increases with age due to the increasing frequency of vascular stiffness, and disturbed regulation of sodium excretion. Other cardiovascular diseases are as followed: coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure and heart defects. The role of the caregiver and the family is to change the lifestyle of the sick person. Regular physical activity, change of a diet, limiting the consumption of salt, red meat and saturated fatty acids, quit smoking and minimize alcohol consumption.
• Cancer - more than 60% of cancer patients in Europe are people over the age of 65. Most often there are lung, prostate and breast carcinoma. As far as the most diagnosed tumours of the digestive tract are concerned, there are: oesophageal, gastric, pancreatic and colon carcinoma. Other often diagnosed cancers in seniors are: kidney, bladder or skin carcinoma. The care over a senior with neoplastic disease is an individual matter, depending on the disease stage and in accordance with the strict recommendations of the attending physician.
• Diabetes mellitus - may be asymptomatic in the elderly. The risk increases with excess weight or obesity, especially abdominal obesity, with reduced physical activity, impaired kidney and liver function. It is estimated that the peak incidence of type 2 diabetes occurs around the age of 60. The most important thing in caring for a diabetic is to know the treatment regimen: times of drug intake, insulin injection and its amount. An important aspect is also a proper diet and physical activity. The exercises are matched to the general condition of the patient, after consultation with a specialist.
• Osteoarthritis - approximately 50% of people over 50 struggles with this condition. In addition to the treatment prescribed by the doctor, it is important to provide the necessary support overcoming articular limitations.
• Osteoporosis - a decrease in bone strength, causing the bones to break more often. 20% of patients with fractures of the femur die within six months. The duties of the caregivers include calcium-rich meal preparation, regular exercise, and light exercises to strengthen bones and muscles. The patient often moves around with crutches or walkers.
• Depression - an increasingly common condition among older people. Women suffer more often than men. Depressed mood, loss of interest or unreasonable sadness characterize depression. Loneliness is the most common cause of depression in seniors. As in any case, the most important thing is the physical activity of the patient. struggling with depression, moderate exercise is recommended due to the frequent lack of energy. Good contact with the senior is also important. Smile to make the senior feel important.