Eight ways to help your parents as they get older

Submitted by Canton1 on
By Susan Sterling

Oftentimes, when children come home for the holidays to spend much-needed time with their parents, they are surprised to realize they aren’t as independent as they once were.   Their home may not be as well-kept, their food supply may be low, their hearing, vision and skin may be deteriorating.

 

As your parents age, they will eventually need more help with daily activities but they may be too proud to ask or don’t want to burden you.  If you have noticed signs of a gradual decline, I have a few suggestions that will help YOU help your parents.

 

1.        First things first, always empathize with your parents and understand the grief that comes with losing their mobility and independence.  It is not an easy adjustment, so be patient.

2.       Help them with things around the house they may have trouble taking care of on their own such as lawn-care and changing lightbulbs. If you notice repairs that need to be taken care of, call and make the arrangements. Move things from higher shelves to places that are easier for them to reach. Be sure their living space is well-lit and easy to navigate.

3.       Organize their medication and walk them through which pills should be taken at what time.

4.       Enlist nearby family members, friends and neighbors to drop in for visits and check up on them without being obvious.

5.       Encourage them to be active and find activities they can still do and enjoy. Join them in a project to get them started.

6.       Sit down with them and start talking about their memories and things they love. It is also a great time to create a memory book filled with photos labeled with names and the relationship, travels, mementos and pets.

7.       Call regularly and see how they are doing! They will love to hear from you and it is a great way to see how their speech and hearing is as well as to ask questions about their day to pinpoint any areas of concern.

8.       Become familiar with their doctors and schedule time to visit with them to discuss any health and social concerns they may have.

Keep in mind that your parents may balk at the extra help and might feel you are intruding.  Be patient and focus on the positives of having extra help.  With the right help, they will be able to be more active, be involved in the community and remain close to family and friends.

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