While most of us are looking for ways to look younger for longer, growing old, strong, and healthy is something we all want for ourselves and those we love. However, it comes with certain responsibilities. Those of us who are lucky to see our parents grow old to their golden years can attest to this. The elderly need to be taken good care of. We owe it to them.
While some prefer taking their elderly parents to homes for the aged, a lot of negative rap has been associated with these facilities over the years. We’ve heard of cases where the elderly are being mistreated, neglected, or even assaulted while at these facilities. With this having been said, here are a few tips to guide you on how to take care of your elderly parents at home.
1. Make the Home Safe and Accessible
Unlike you, who are still strong and vibrant, your parents will have difficulties moving around the house as they age. Tasks such as climbing the stairs become more taxing if, at all, it doesn’t seem impossible. One of the things you could do to improve accessibility is to install grab bars on the stair rails or install a stairlift. If you are a bit short on the budget, installing reconditioned stairlifts can be an excellent solution. These make it even safer and more comfortable for seniors to navigate the house, even while you are not around.
Making the house safer for them may also involve doing some structural modifications. This could mean replacing your existing shower with a walk-in bathtub. In addition to improving accessibility, make sure that every room they access is free from objects they might trip on. Trip and fall accidents can be extremely detrimental for seniors. Adding a medical alert system to your home would also help give you and your parents peace of mind for when they have to be left alone.
2. Keep a Close Eye on Their Well-Being
Taking care of the elderly is fun if their well-being is constantly checked. Older people have a lot of complications, most of which get worse as they age. Keeping an eye on them saves us the struggle to provide care for something we would have noticed had we been keen enough. A weekly or daily phone call might work, but not entirely. Seniors still feel like they need to show strength even when the opposite is the reality. Therefore, physical presence is more important.
3. Enlist Helpers As Early As Possible
Once parents start aging, caregiving becomes very necessary. The responsibilities increase as they age. Caregiving, in this case, becomes challenging and difficult. Remember, your needs and personality change as you age, and so do those of your aging parents. At this point, anything can happen, and if not prepared, the inevitable might happen. Waiting until that moment of crisis comes does not help. Instead, prepare before any crisis comes to be. As a family, you can schedule how to take care of your parents or even contribute a general fund to have a professional home-care provider tending to their needs from home, which brings us to the next point.
4. Find a Good Professional Care Provider
We owe our elderly parents as much care as possible. This should, however, not deter us from living our own lives. To make sure you don’t neglect your parents and don’t sacrifice all your time, you can opt to get yourself a home-based care provider. You have your own life, and you can’t always be there for things such as unplanned doctor visits, errand running, or giving extra help around the house. For the best care for your elderly parents, work with a home care agency so that even when you are not around, your parents have all the care they need.
5. Understand the Financial Obligation and Assistance Options
Taking care of an older person can at first seem to be a simple task. As they age and their needs increase, you start realizing that the cost of providing for them the care they need is quite high. Before taking on the role of taking care of your elderly parents, it is advisable to look at the cost of maintaining that care without risking your survival. Even if the cost becomes too much, there is no need to quit your job or cash out the savings account. Many resources are available to help take care of the elderly. Look for those, and you will see how easy it can become.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Being a caregiver can be very draining. You cannot offer any care if you are not doing okay yourself. You might be inclined to take care of your parents more than you do of yourself. This should, however, not be the case. The only way you will take care of them is if you are in the right state of mind and peace. Seeking help in taking care of them is one way of ensuring you are taking care of yourself.
Taking care of elderly parents is a responsibility that needs to be approached smartly. You need to be prepared for the obligations that come with caregiving. In the process, it is important to keep in mind that you also have a life. Following the tips above, this responsibility can be easier and much more rewarding.
