Watching your parents age can be an odd and difficult process. The people you used to rely on will quickly become reliant on you to provide them with a good quality of life. Now, there are countless ways that you can support your parents as they grow older. The care and support they need will depend on various factors, ranging from their age to their health to their personal preferences. Here are just a few that you might want to take into consideration.
Support at Home
If you are able to and have time, you may be able to support your parents in their own home. You can look into having special adjustments made to help make their life at home easier, such as accessibility or mobility aids. You can keep them company by checking in on them, giving them a call, popping in for a chat and other activities to beat elderly loneliness. You can hire help to visit their home, such as at-home care services, cleaners, meals on wheels type food deliveries and more. You should also make sure that they are able to attend any appointments they need – either by dropping them yourself or calling a taxi to come and collect them.
Independent Senior Living
Consider independent senior living if your parents can take care of themselves and are in good physical shape, but could do so with more support and company. These are essentially retirement villages where elderly people live together in a community. The properties are generally equipped to better cater to the needs of older adults, such as being bungalows or one floor establishments, having lifts or stair lifts, have walk in bath tubs or have supports around the living space, such as bars to hold onto when using the bathroom. These facilities allow your loved ones to spend more time with those in their own age group and to avoid louder or younger neighbors, at the same time as maintaining their level of independence.
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Care Homes
If your parents require more help and intervention in their day to day lives, care homes may be a better option. Care homes tend to provide round the clock assistance and care, including care from professionals such as nurses or other healthcare staff. This way, your loved one doesn’t need to struggle to do things independently. Instead, they will have their spaces cleaned for them and meals provided, and can receive assistance with everything from bathing to getting dressed, grooming and more.
Every elderly individual has their own, individual needs and requirements, as well as their own preferences. Hopefully, some of the information, suggestions and advice above should help you to care for your aging parents as best possible! Give them a try and see what works for them. The most important part of this process is to listen to them to ensure that they are comfortable and happy with any changes being made, as well as listening to their doctor’s support and advice too!