At the Institute on Aging, working with seniors is both the center of our practice and one of the greatest joys of our lives. Many older adults face great challenges as the years march on, and the challenges they face during a senior life transition can be substantial. However, at IOA we’re aware that time will catch up with all of us, and when that day comes, we want someone to treat us the way we treat our clients. We believe that all older adults deserve compassion, respect, and dignity as they navigate their transition into the aging process. Read on to see why we love working with older adults.
We love helping older adults to maintain their independence
Maintaining your independence is just as important during your golden years as it was when you were younger, but as adults age, it can be difficult to maintain a sense of autonomy and self-reliance. Older adults often need help carving out a sense of their own autonomy, and that’s where we come in. One of the biggest worries associated with aging is not being able to stay in your own home because you can no longer navigate it physically.
In many cases, individuals have lived in and loved their homes for decades. They enjoy being around neighbors in their own community and having the sense of comfort that a familiar environment brings. But older adults often believe they have no choice but to accept higher levels of care due to illness or injury.
At the IOA, we provide both medical and non-medical help as often as necessary so that seniors can live as independently as possible. Whether it’s a visiting nurse several times a week, home health aides twenty-four hours a day or expert in-home consultations, we provide the same quality of care you’d see in a facility.
We love offering a more personal touch
Personal relationships are another reason we love our work. Just like close family members, many of the individuals we work with develop meaningful bonds with our staff — and the feeling is mutual! With institutional living, there can be a bit of a formal feeling to the interactions between patients and healthcare workers. That’s not the case with the IOA. Although we provide the utmost in professional care, our manner is always warm and friendly because our staff loves helping people.
We love seeing the way our personalized touch makes seniors’ family members happy as well. We can provide an attentive, competent home health aide to handle medical needs, as well as cooking, housekeeping, and transportation. That way, your family can base their visits around enjoying their loved one’s company rather than cleaning up or scheduling doctor visits.
We love learning from older adults
Older adults have all the wisdom in the world, which is another reason we can’t wait to go to work in the morning! As we coach them on adjusting to their illnesses, we find we end up learning, too. Many older adults have had fascinating careers, unforgettable families, and maintain the strength of character necessary to overcome enormous obstacles. The personal stories and life lessons they share are irreplaceable, and they allow us to face our own lives with greater courage and grace.
We love sharing happy times
Many people associate getting older with a slow decline in function and abilities. While this may be true in many cases, it doesn’t mean that all the good times are over! We are constantly surprised at the variety of hobbies, talents, and interests our clients bring to the table. Helping older adults continue to do what they love every day is what we love about every day! Sometimes, this means going through an old photo album to refresh pleasant memories or starting a DIY craft project to help create new memories. No matter the task, smiles and laughter are precious gifts that our clients give to us that allow us to feel truly fulfilled in our careers and our lives.
The advantages of working with seniors
Working with older adults has so many advantages that we can’t possibly list them all here. Whether you’re a caregiver by profession, or you look after a family member, you know you’re in a special position to add to a person’s life. Be sure to make the most of every moment with your client or loved one, because fond memories are just one more reason to love working with seniors!
If you are unsure of how to best help an aging loved one, the trained and compassionate staff at the Institute on Aging is here to help you make that decision and gain the best in at-home care for older adults. Contact us to find out more.
