A Guide to Caring for Parents

Last updated on October 11th, 2023 at 09:42 pm

As your parents get older, the require more help from their children.

A Guide to Caring for Parents

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Watching your parents grow older might not feel easy, especially if they have a debilitating health condition.

As the years pass by, it might become your responsibility to ensure your mom and/or dad maintain a good quality of life throughout their golden years.

Yet, you might feel unsure about the best ways to cater to their every need. Read this helpful guide to caring for parents.

Assess a Parent’s Needs

If you have noticed your parent is becoming forgetful, fails to take their medication on schedule, or has developed bad habits in the home, it might be a sign they need more support in their daily lives.

Before making any decisions about their care, try to assess your parent’s needs to identify if they need a little support from loved ones or part-time or full-time care.

Consider a parent’s:

  • Cognitive health
  • Mobility
  • Healthcare needs
  • Personal hygiene
  • Home safety
  • Ability to perform everyday tasks
  • Social requirements

If a parent’s health has declined, you must encourage them to visit a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

Also, you may need to gather loved ones together to discuss how to provide them with more support in the home.

Senior woman checking her finances and investments

Introduce Supportive Aids and Services

If a parent struggles with mobility or can no longer complete various everyday tasks, introduce supportive aids and services to simplify their home life, such as:

  • Installing stairlifts and grab bars to support mobility
  • Gifting a riser recliner chair to help them rise from their seat
  • Labeling cabinets and boxes to prevent confusion
  • Removing potential trip hazards
  • Subscribing to a meal delivery service to send tasty dishes to their home

Also, a fall detection system can identify if a parent has fallen in the home and will then alert a loved one and the emergency services.

The technology will provide peace of mind that your aging parent will receive medical attention when they need it.

It is a must-have for seniors prone to falls or living with a chronic health condition.

Consider Your Circumstances

If a parent can no longer maintain a fully independent lifestyle, you must identify how to best care for their specific needs.

Before volunteering, carefully consider your circumstances to create a realistic care plan for one or both parents.

If you have a demanding career, are raising young children, or have additional personal responsibilities, you might be unable to provide your parents with the daily care they need.

It is better to request assistance from loved ones or professional care services if you cannot provide your mom and/or dad with the appropriate support each day.

Learn About the Various Care Options

If you cannot care for your parents on a part-time or full-time basis, you might need to review the different care options available to protect their health, safety, and wellbeing.

Home care services are popular options for elders who can no longer complete many everyday tasks in the home, such as cooking, cleaning, or bathing.

However, as your parent grows older, you might worry about around-the-clock support, especially if their healthcare needs are likely to change.

A care home is often the best option in this circumstance, as they’ll receive 24-hour care, which can vary from helping with washing and dressing to supporting additional needs.

Also, a care home could provide seniors with a better quality of life during their golden years.

For example, signature-care-homes.co.uk provides daily support alongside exceptional amenities, fun activities, and high hygiene standards.

It will provide peace of mind that your mom and/or dad are happy, safe, and cared for each day.

Elderly grandmother in wheelchair with granddaughter in spring nature.

Speak to Your Parents

If you believe your parents are becoming a risk to themselves, you must sit them down to discuss their future care needs.

As hard as it might be to talk about their ailing health, you must involve them in the conversation to help them maintain a feeling of control and independence.

Also, it will provide you with more confidence when making key decisions for one or both parents, especially if their health deteriorates.

Always take their preferences into account when making care decisions, as it will allow them to age with dignity and respect.

Conclusion

Your parents will have spent their lives caring for your every need, and it might now be your turn to return the favor.

Watching your mom and/or dad lose their independence will not feel easy, and they may need support to live a healthy, happy life throughout their golden years.

Many supportive aids and services can help your parents maintain more independence and freedom in their home.

Yet, there might come a day when you need to make additional arrangements to protect their health and wellbeing, from providing at-home care as a family to placing one or both parents in an exceptional care home.

Whichever option you choose, you must involve your parent in the process as much as possible to preserve their dignity and make the transition much easier.

Blogger

Rylie is freelance writer, fitness blogger, and travel junkie. Originally from Toronto, she currently resides in Lima, Peru but is always on the move to discover new adventures.

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