4 Crucial Tips for Taking Care of Your Elderly Parents at Home

After leading independent lives for decades, most elders are reluctant to welcome the dependency that comes with the loss of youthfulness and vigor. Nonetheless, as circumstances call for assisted living, children have to step in and provide them with much-needed care.

Even then, most caregivers are torn between putting up their parents in an elderly nursing home and living with them in their homes where they fear they might not have the capacity (time and expertise) to offer sufficient care. If you prefer taking care of your elderly parents at home despite the challenges, here are four crucial tips to make your work easier.

1. Establish the scope of the care needed

As much as you may want to give your elderly parent the best care possible, doing it all by yourself can be strenuous. It's essential to establish how much care they need, see how much you can provide, and delegate what you can't manage. 

Take time and prepare a list of the daily, weekly, or monthly tasks involved. Categorize the tasks further into those that require to be done during the day or at night to see how much you can handle. If you have other close family members, request them to take up some of the responsibilities. This helps you avoid becoming overwhelmed so that you don't compromise your health.

The other alternative is finding the best senior care options in your area to help with some tasks. Available options may include adult day programs, in-home caregiving, or respite care service. This way, your elderly parent can be properly cared for without leaving home, thereby relieving you of some tasks so that you don't burn out.

2. Prioritize their safety 

Whether your elderly parent moves in to live with you or prefers staying in their home, their safety is of utmost importance. They may not be athletic as they used to be anymore, so ensure you make the necessary changes in the home to guarantee their safe movements around. 

Senses weaken with age, and your parents may fail to detect some dangers in their environment without assistive interventions. If they live alone or have to be on their own at some point, install sound, movement, or smoke or gas detectors around the home that can alert them to unusual happenings, either through a vibration on their phone or wearable on their wrist.

Also, ensure any cables and clutter are tucked away to minimize accidents. Adding non-skid mats on slippery surfaces can also help eliminate the risk of slipping and injuring themselves.

3. Monitor their health closely

As our bodies become frail, they are more susceptible to illnesses. Ensure you keep tabs on their health by scheduling regular check-ups. Doing so can help prevent or manage diseases before they progress. Sometimes the elderly have recurring health issues that force them to be on different medications concurrently. Ensure you consult their physician before administering additional medication to avoid the risk of them interacting with each other, as this may threaten their health.  

4. Don't neglect their need for social interaction

As their mobility decreases, elders can easily get isolated. This puts them at the risk of developing depression, anxiety, and other disorders that may deteriorate their mental and physical health. Take time and engage them in a warm chat whenever you can. This can make them feel good about themselves, boost their sense of well-being, and lead to better health. Also, encourage them to meet with their friends, if they can, and get involved in activities that will keep them active. The longer they remain active, the better their health will be. Consequently, this can translate to happier twilight years.     

Endnote

Taking care of an elderly parent comes with its fair share of challenges. However, by collaborating with your siblings and close family members and enlisting the help of in-home caregivers whenever the need arises, you can offer them the best possible care without straining yourself.