An essential guide for taking care of elderly parents
Your parents have supported you throughout much of your life growing up. While you retain the right to write a new chapter for yourself, it’s still important to look back and appreciate the wonderful things they’ve done, even when you’ve already settled down away from them. The best way to give back and express gratitude is to care for them during their twilight years.
As they retire, your parents need all the support they can get to make the most of the years ahead. However, they may face physical hurdles that get in the way of their goals. At this point, all that you can do is to make the road easier for them to tread on. With the energy, time, and resources you have, it matters to be there for them in this crucial phase in their lives. Here’s a basic guide to walk you through it:
1. Understand Their Needs
For the most part, providing care and support is a matter of knowing what seniors need across all aspects of their lives. Regarding physical needs, you need to pay close attention to their conditions and make necessary environmental improvements that make mobility easier. Taking them on visits to their physician also plays a vital role, especially if you’re also present to weigh in on critical medical decisions.
If your parent is a veteran, you are responsible for helping them with their VA benefits applications and other issues that may affect their payout. Seniors who contracted mesothelioma during active duty years ago should be accompanied to a mesothelioma veterans centre for resources and advice.
2. Offer Social Support
Seniors can enjoy retirement life better when given ample time and space to socialize. Constant communication with their loved ones is guaranteed to uplift their mood and stimulate their cognitive abilities, thereby reducing the onset of mental degradation as the years go by.
Don’t miss the chance to visit your parents, whether they’re living in a retirement community or at your old house. It also helps if you can find time to talk with them through videoconferencing and invite them to a family outing within or outside the country. Anything that can help improve their mental health during retirement is worth your time and effort.
3. Get help when you need to
Most of the time, you may not be available to tend to your elderly parents’ needs. Considering you still have a career and your own family to care for, you can’t always be there for them the entire time. You can always get someone else who can be with your parents.
You can have another family member or hire a professional caregiver from a care organization to be on call to help your parents move around, do specific tasks, and be reminded of medication schedules. Be sure to do a thorough background check on applicants before hiring one that fits your parents’ needs. It would be a good idea to get someone with a nursing and social work background to get the job done.
4. Spread out Decision Making
When caring for an elderly parent, problems may arise when a single family member calls all the shots. It requires a team effort to make retirement life easier for seniors, so always consider what other family members will have to say before making an important decision. What’s more, you need your parents to decide for themselves, especially when downsizing or moving to another town or city. You just have to ensure everything is ironed out before they decide.
Endnote
Nothing comes off as the ultimate act of love for your parents, quite like supporting them during their retirement. It may be taxing, but it’s a moral responsibility you must take up.