Although it may still feel wintery, we know that spring is just around the corner, and with it, those warmer days, crisp air, and gentle breezes. The perfect time to get out of the house and enjoy some outdoor time.
This is also a good time to start to think about how we help our clients to enjoy the new season. Many live-in carers may also be starting to feel housebound, particularly if your client has mobility issues, and getting outdoors is a daunting task.
There are ways to help our clients get out and enjoy fresh air and new sights, and although they may seem difficult it is possible to help our clients enjoy spring.
Garden centres are a great place to start, and even if our clients use wheelchairs to get around, garden centres these days cater for this, making doors and aisles wider, and coffee shops more accessible.
Many places have parking areas designated for special needs and you may be able to park close to a coffee shop or place of interest.
Now is the time to find out what interests your client. Not every client may be able to walk great distances, but parks are often laid out with paths which are wheelchair friendly.
Indeed, these days places of interest cater very well for people who need assistance to move. If they do not, their clientele simply moves on elsewhere, so you will likely find that you can take your client wherever they would like to go.
It’s a great idea to invite a friend of your client around for morning/afternoon tea or even lunch in the garden or on the patio. This need not leave you with too much extra work if you keep the numbers small.
Just as easy to make lunch for yourself and your client with one other, really. Light lunches such as quiche and salads will often be enough for visitors.
Encourage this, particularly if your client cannot get out and about as they used. Staying connected to friends is important, often difficult in the winter months and far easier as the days warm up.
If your client is mobile you may think about returning to outdoor activities they used to enjoy.
Many of our older clients are - or were - avid gardeners, and will still enjoy pottering around in their gardens. Encourage them to deadhead their plants, pick some flowers and arrange them, plant a few seeds in pots and water flowers.
If possible, encourage your client to become involved again in going outside the house or apartment.
If your client has a history of asthma and allergies, be aware that spring may bring a host of nasty respiratory issues with it.
Check the notes which will have been left in the house. You will find details of any allergy medication they use. You may need to order more from the doctor. Better to do this sooner rather than leave it until the warm days have arrived.
Make sure to keep your client hydrated as the days get warm and encourage healthy eating to continue, even though they may not feel hungry. Light, nutritious meals will include all the nutrients they need.
As in any excursion, clothing is important and no more so than when taking our clients out in the warmer months.
Pay attention to suitable dress, and be aware that the weather changes rapidly. Be sure to always have a jumper or rain jacket at hand if the weather changes.
Sunscreen is always advisable, and hats are a good idea to protect foreheads and noses.
Light jackets, comfortable trousers, supportive shoes, and lightweight scarves are all essential items for you and your client to have on an outing.
It is a good idea to start preparing for the warmer days early. Sort out summer clothing, wash, and air, or ask the family to invest in new items before the warm days arrive.
Have an idea of what your client can and cannot do and make plans to adapt to this. If needed, you can make a few phone calls to places of interest to confirm that they are able to accommodate a wheelchair, and have disabled toilets, should you need them.
It is a great idea to encourage our clients to make the most of the warm days, even if they simply get out into their own gardens for a short time each day. Not only is this good for their health, but it will also improve their mental health.
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