It can be difficult to watch your parents age, but now more than ever they need your support. They have been the strength and care you needed for your entire life, so it’s understandable that you want to do everything you can to give back to them. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can give back so they can live out their golden years happy, healthy, and dignified.
Find out where they may need extra help
The last thing you should do is take over their life completely, so it’s important to be discreet here. Take note of different areas of their life where they might need more help. It might be something as simple as helping out with home maintenance, or it could be more significant like helping to cook their food. Spend time with them so that you can tailor how you’re going to support them without taking away any of their independence.
Help them be independent
Speaking of independence, it’s important to help them stay as independent as possible for as long as you can. You can do this by installing rails around their home and making sure that there aren’t any hazards. Think about it this way – if you had all decision making and all activities that you do everyday taken away from you, it would feel horrible wouldn’t it? It’s exactly the same for your parents, and if you can help them keep their independence, it will help them physically and mentally.
Get involved with their healthcare
We don’t need to tell you that as you age, health complications can come into play. If you’ve noticed that your parents are neglecting to attend check ups or ignoring a health problem, it might be time to get involved. For example, you can talk to them about the signs of hearing loss not to ignore, or help them schedule a medication review with their Doctor. Small nudges may help them get the care they need to stay healthy.
Help them plan for the future
Finally, discussing what they want from their future can be difficult, but it’s important to show face and talk to them. While it’s not nice to think about, you need to ask them what they want if they could no longer live independently, whether it’s going into a care home or having a carer live with them. You also need to think about getting their wills finalised and who they would like their power of attorney to be. Not only does this tie up loose ends, but it gives them a choice in how they live their final years.
It’s also important to remember that you shouldn’t struggle through the care of your parents alone. There are lots of care services that can be put into place so that not only do your parents get the care they need, but so that you can enjoy the time you spend with them rather than worrying about everything else.