Inside: Top Tips For Looking After Your Aging Parents. Collaborative post.
We often realise how short life is when we see our own children growing up too quickly. It feels like one moment, they are cradled in our arms, and the next, they’re moving into a university flat. However, while it’s easy to notice these changes in our children, it can sometimes feel like we blink and our own parents are getting older, too!
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to help look after and care for your ageing parents – showing them the same grace and respect that they have always extended to you!
Help them keep their home in order.
If your parents want to age in place (instead of staying at one of the many different forms of senior care facilities), it’s crucial that you make sure their home works for them, especially as their needs change. One of the easiest ways to achieve this goal is to thoroughly declutter the space. After all, clutter can present a serious tripping hazard and could also lead to an increase in sickness and allergies.
Stay informed.
One of the easiest ways to manage our health is to remain informed. For example, if we’re prescribed new medicine by a doctor, working to understand what this medication does and how it works can make it easier to take control of our own health. As such, staying informed about any conditions your parents may be dealing with can help you to provide them with the best possible support.
For example, if they are dealing with diabetes, you can help them to make necessary lifestyle changes that reduce their symptoms. For example, this could include transitioning into a healthier diet, incorporating exercise into their schedule, or simply finding ways to keep their stress levels down.
One of the easiest ways to stay informed when it comes to helping a loved one battle a health condition is to speak to their care providers, such as their doctors and nurses. This is a far better option than taking to Google – as while there may be plenty of resources and blogs out there, it’s hard to distinguish misinformation from fact.
Conversely, when speaking with a healthcare professional, they’ll be able to provide you all with practical advice while breaking down more complex medical jargon so that you find it easier to understand and approach the situation. They may also be able to point you towards scientifically backed resources that you can rely on.
Spend quality time with them.
According to a recent study, approximately 50% of individuals aged over 60 are at risk of social isolation. This means that loneliness is one of the most pressing concerns for senior citizens, especially as this can lead to various other issues. For example, if they feel isolated, they may feel less inclined to care for themselves properly, leaving them at risk of sickness and injury.
Fortunately, this is an issue that is easy to fix – as you simply need to spend some quality time with them. For example, you should aim to visit them at least once a week or invite them to stay over at your home. When your schedule is too busy for a visit, be sure to call them just to check in, though this may mean you need to teach them how to use the video call settings on their phone!
In addition to this, you may also want to encourage them to participate in hobbies where they can make friends with like-minded individuals. Again, this can be a great way to help prevent isolation and loneliness, as well as teach them that you’re never too old to make a new friend!
For example, they could sign up for local exercise classes geared towards older adults, reading groups, cooking classes or anything in between – the options are endless!
Help with their rainy day fund.
Whether you’re a saving pro or looking to improve your budgeting skills, working to help your parents take control of their finances can also come in handy as they get older. After all, once they reach retirement age, it may be that they become more reliant on their rainy day fund.
Again, there are many ways in which you can help them in this regard. For example, it could be as simple as offering out some financial advice, giving them some tips on how they can reduce their expenses or cut down on household bills. Alternatively, you may want to help them seek out investment opportunities so that they can begin to earn some form of passive income.
Look at retirement villages.
As your parents grow older, the level of support they may need from others will likely increase over time. As a result, you may want to encourage them to look at moving to places where they’ll be closer to these support services, such as healthcare facilities or care staff.
For example, they could move into a retirement village, such as a Country Estate facility. The varying styles of accommodation available mean that they can maintain their own independence while also receiving support as and when they need it.
Living in a retirement village can also help to combat loneliness, as they will quickly become part of a village community, especially if they join one of the many daily classes and activities held there.
Ask them what they need.
Our needs can change from day to day, so sometimes, the easiest way to show up for someone and support them is to ask what they need from you. For example, it may be something as simple as asking you to head to the shops with them to pick up some groceries or simply to keep them company on a rainy day.
Either way, maintaining an open communication channel will enable you to stay connected to your parents and ensure they are getting exactly what they need.
Take care of yourself too.
One thing that we often forget when caring for others (be that our parents or our children) is that it’s equally important that we take care of ourselves. After all, the more we neglect our own needs, the harder it is to show up for others as consistently as we’d like. This is because it puts you on the path towards complete exhaustion and burnout – during which time you’ll be unable to do much of anything.
As such, moving forward, it’s important that you make your own needs a priority. For example, you should set aside some time in your schedule to dedicate to self-care, whether this means you finally master your skincare routine or enjoy a nice long bath after a busy day. Additionally, you should try to make sure you get plenty of rest and sleep!
Final thoughts.
Seeing our parents get older can be an incredibly daunting experience. After all, for most of our lives, we turned to them when we needed help – and the shifting dynamics can be hard to deal with. However, it’s important to note that the best thing you can do during this time is simply show up for them.
Whether you’re accompanying them to doctors’ appointments or helping them move into a retirement village or assisted living facility, having you there by their side is often more than enough to help them get through the day.
Furthermore, this means they are more likely to ask when they need help too, instead of trying to work their way through their problems in silence.