There will come a time when your parents will get older and you will need to be there for them. It may feel overwhelming initially, but know that there are steps you can take to ensure you do all you can for them and have a positive experience. You may even discover that you have a stronger bond and relationship from your efforts.
There are some tips to help your parents as they age that you can apply to assist you in this journey. Most importantly, show your love for them and have empathy and compassion as they may also be struggling to cope with the fact that they are aging.
Advocate for Them
You can help your parents as they age by advocating for them. For example, if they are living in an assisted living facility then make sure you listen to them and speak up if you see anything going on that isn’t right. You can always look into getting a Nursing home abuse lawyer if necessary. Also, go to their doctor’s appointments with them if possible so you know what’s going on with their health and can advocate for them in this setting as well.
Encourage Them to Be Social & Active
It’s also important that your elderly parents have a social life and get out of the house once in a while. Encourage them to make and keep friendships and to have other relationships and people they can talk to and lean on. Find ways to get them involved with community events and social activities happening in the area. Being social will be rewarding for them and good for their mental health as well. It’s also wise that they exercise to keep healthy and fit and maintain strong bones.
Communicate & Check-in
As your parents age, you should make sure that you communicate and check in with them often. Ask questions and gather more details about what you can do to make their life a bit easier. Give them a call at the minimum to see how they are doing daily, or send an email if you can’t physically stop by the house. Ask what they need and gather more information about how they are doing in case they need help or assistance.
Focus on Safety
Put safety first when you’re trying to help your parents as they age. For example, maybe there are modifications you can make to their home so they don’t slip and fall and can get in and out of bed easily. When you implement these types of solutions it’s more likely that they will be able to live more independently at home.
Involve Others
You should also involve others as your parents age such as reaching out to additional family or friends. Try not to take on all the responsibility and burden on your own. Instead, get in touch with other people in the area who can be of assistance. Also, make sure you take good care of yourself and take breaks away from it all so you can keep healthy and stay well throughout this transition.
