Whether parents, grandparents or great-grandparents, you want to make sure you can protect them as much as they protected you when you were younger. Many seniors believe they can look after themselves, which can mean they will find it difficult to change their ways and adjust to how the world around them has evolved. As you have seen the world change and managed to adapt to it, you can find ways to protect them from the range of issues they could encounter as they get older, so they can focus on enjoying their retirement.
Remind Them to Get Checkups
As your relatives get older, they will begin to forget about things that will ensure they remain healthy. While you don’t want to nag them too much, it’s still important to remind them to visit the doctor and get a checkup.
You can add this information to a calendar, which will keep them updated even if you happen to forget. It may also be possible to ask their local practice to send reminders when appointments are coming up so that your relatives do not miss them.
However, often, elderly parents can be stubborn and refuse to get a checkup because they don’t want to make a fuss. This can be tricky to deal with, but picking your battles can help them see your perspective.
Offer to Do Things for Them
Elderly parents are not as strong as they once were, which means there’s an increased risk of injury, especially during winter, where they could slip and fall on black ice, which could be severely damaging.v
If you want to protect them from the risk of this, you can offer to do things like shopping or walking the dog. Even if they don’t want you to take all the responsibility yourself, offer them to come with you. At least then you will be there to help them should anything go wrong.
If they struggle with mobility and cannot afford a carer, it might also be worth offering to help clean the house when possible.
Teach Them About Scammers
Hackers and bad actors scamming the elderly are among the most prevalent issues in society. There have been many instances of scammers draining entire life savings from unsuspecting individuals. While you cannot always be there for them to answer the phone, you can teach them about scammers and how to recognize them.
They might get a phone call about viruses on the computer or a threatening message from someone pretending to be the government or the Inland Revenue. They usually ask for money transfers as soon as possible. Otherwise, they will be arrested.
This can be stressful and cause severe anxiety. With this in mind, it’s important to remind your relatives that this is something that happens, and if they get a call, they should ignore it and speak to you immediately.
Learn To Recognize Bad Signs
Your parents and grandparents may be tough, but that doesn’t mean they are not still vulnerable. If you learn to recognize bad signs, such as the start of memory or eyesight loss, or even abuse in a care home, you will be able to act on it and protect them faster.
Be sure to pay attention to any behavioral changes, and if they seem off, it could be a sign that you need to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer. You should also be sure to monitor their energy levels, persistent coughs so you can speak to doctors to act on the issue and perhaps overcome them before they become too severe.
Stay In Touch With Them
If you make an effort to keep in touch with your elderly relatives, you can keep them happy and engaged in the world around them. Keeping in touch can minimize the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, ensuring their mind stays active.
You can stay in touch by visiting them at home, or if this isn’t possible, regular Skype calls can be highly beneficial. You may need to teach them how to use a tablet and their wifi but, whatever frustrations this brings for both of you, it will be worth it in the long run.
Looking After Them
It should not be solely on you to protect your elderly relatives. It should also come from your siblings, your children, and anyone else close to them. By knowing which areas are the most important for you to focus on, though, you will be able to make your parents’ and grandparents’ later years safer, more comfortable, and infinitely more enjoyable because that’s what they deserve.
