How you can protect your elderly parents from harm

Getting older yourself means watching your parents get older too. As they age, there can be something of a role reversal where they begin to need some extra care and support. It then often becomes the job of their adult children or other relatives to ensure they’re getting the support that they need. Your older parents may be largely independent, but they might benefit from some extra help so that they can improve their quality of life. Protecting them from harm is probably your priority when you’re thinking about how to provide the support that they need. They can become more vulnerable as they get older, so it can become more difficult to protect them.

As their child, you can do a number of things to protect your parents as they age. You can work with them to make sure their needs are met and eventually you might end up taking charge more if they can no longer take care of themselves.

Communicate with Your Parents

Communication is key if you want to make sure you protect your parents from harm. Firstly, being a presence in their life allows you to understand what’s happening. It will mean you’re closer to your parents and will help you to spot anything that might be wrong, which could be easier to miss if you’re not in regular contact with them. You don’t necessarily have to live close to them, but it’s helpful if you can contact them often and visit them too. Talking to your parents about important issues is a must too. It can help them to protect themselves and make you aware of any problems.

Find the Right Care Options

When your parents need some help with care needs, finding the right option can be tough. You have various possibilities to consider, from home care to assisted living and nursing homes. Choosing the best option and the best provider is crucial if you don’t want to end up calling a nursing home abuse lawyer in the future. The first thing you need to do is decide, with your parents, what type of care is most appropriate or necessary. In-home care can allow them to live more independently at home, but other types of care can provide more support. You can vet any care options that you’re considering by looking at licensing bodies, reviews, and other resources.

Create a Safe Environment

Your parents need a safe home to protect them as they get older. The first step to ensuring this is to consider if they are living in the right place. You might need to consider whether they should move to a new home, move in with you, or even move to a care home or nursing home. Wherever they live, they should be in a secure environment where they are safe from trespassers and also protected from wandering away if they are dealing with dementia. You can also make their home safe in other ways, including by ensuring they are able to safely get around.

Help with Finances

Managing money can become more difficult as you get older. On top of that, many elderly people are more vulnerable and people can take advantage of them, scam them and abuse them financially. A lot of people are not particularly financially literate either, but being able to manage your money becomes even more important when you no longer have a full-time income. You can provide help with budgeting and other financial issues to help your parents make the most of their money. If they’re unable to make their own financial decisions, you might have to consider options such as gaining power of attorney.

Help Them Stay Healthy

Helping your parents to manage their health and make healthy choices can protect them too. You can do lots of things to help them be healthier, from creating social connections for them to helping them to exercise and eat healthily. It’s also useful if you can help them find a purpose and decide what matters most to them. This can give them a reason to take care of themselves and try to maintain a good quality of life.

Managing Relationships

Social connection is important for anyone, and especially for older people. However, you might protect your parents by helping to manage their relationships and ensure they’re healthy. Older people can be taken advantage of by others, so it’s helpful if you monitor who they’re associating with and what their relationships are like.

Protect your elderly parents from home by being involved in their lives and caring for their needs.

Image by sarcifilippo