Elder care can be a critical part of ensuring that older parents and loved ones stay safe, manage their health care needs and are happy. Everyone has their own needs and the solutions and options are many . Please read below for more on this important issue.

Elder care can mean many things. It can mean a family member visiting an elderly parent or relative on a regular basis to keep them company, check on their status and to make sure their fridge is stocked. It can mean a professional caregiver providing care in a Hospital or Nursing home. It can involve assistance with eating, toileting and dressing. It can, and often does, involve medications and specific routines. And it can make a huge difference in the quality of life for the person receiving the care. It can, in many cases mean the difference between staying safe and well and deteriorating

Care needs can be very complex and can change rapidly as the result of infection, falls and strokes.  A trained and experienced eye is an important part of any elder care arrangement. Although most personal care is generally provided by trained, unregistered staff such as Health Care Aids and Personal Support Workers, a Registered Nurse is often the best person to be involved, on a case management level, in the care of an elderly person.

When talking with care providers always inquire as to who monitors the ongoing status of clients and do the front line caregivers have an Registered Nurse they can talk with if they need assistance or have observed a change in a client's status - mental or physical.