Are you the child of aging parents?
Your parents are likely starting to notice changes impacting their daily life, and there is no time like the present for you to start preparing yourself.
No matter how old or young our parents are, we usually want to be able to help them stay independent as they age. However, sometimes it can be difficult because of practical limitations posed by an aging parent’s physical constraints.
Even so, one thing you can do today is ensure that your parents have access to resources that will help them not only maintain but improve their independence throughout their later years.
Here is an aging parents checklist to help you with dealing with aging parents:
1.Too Much Junk Around the House Is Making Daily Life Impossible
If you are noticing that your parents are having trouble walking around the house, it might be because they have too much stuff inside. One of the problems with age is it makes us more forgetful and disorganized.
For many aged adults, this means spending less time or not making the effort to constantly tidy up their living area.
This might be fine if your parent lives alone, but when other family members visit, things can get out of hand quickly. Cleaning up after others is only going to make getting rid of excess clutter even harder for aging parents.
You can help by asking them who visits regularly and catching up with them about how long they stay—an hour? Ten minutes?
Is there anything you can do to make their time more efficient? If there are things to be done around the house, perhaps you can take this responsibility off your parents’ hands by suggesting they hire a professional cleaner who can come in for short bursts of time.
Regular visits from a local handyman could also do wonders for keeping up appearances both inside and out.
2.Healthcare Is Getting More Complicated
One of the most common concerns associated with aging is getting older adults to follow doctor’s orders. While visiting your elderly parents, try asking them how much information they need before doing what their doctor says.
Do they want all the details or just the final decision about what will happen next? This way you can help ensure that any doctors’ appointments go smoothly without overwhelming your senior with too much information.
You can see the senior living cost here.
3.Fear of Losing Independence Is Causing Your Parents to Make Poor Decisions
Offering your parents support when they are making decisions is always important, but it can be especially helpful in the face of difficult choices. One way you can demonstrate this support is by being particularly sensitive when offering suggestions or pointing out potential problems.
Instead of saying, “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” use more encouraging words like, “Let me help you come up with some alternatives.”
This will help your loved one maintain that feeling of autonomy while still staying safe and healthy. Plus, if they decide on an alternative you suggested, they’ll appreciate it even more!
Caring for Aging Parents
As long as we have a little preparation and some insight, we can help take care of our aging parents in the best possible way. By getting ready for these challenges in advance, you’ll be able to make your parents’ lives easier while also allowing them to maintain their independence.
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