Taking Care of Your Elderly Parents — 5 Tips

Thanks to the advancements in medicine and technology, it’s now common for people to reach a very advanced age. Unfortunately, ageing is still not as graceful as we’d like it to be. Some lose their strength, others start to forget about basic things, and virtually all become more susceptible to various illnesses than ever.

If you have older parents, you’ve most likely seen some of these sad changes. Although it’s impossible to reverse time, there are ways in which you can help your elderly parents. Below you’ll find a few tips on how to take care of your older loved ones properly.

First of all, you should always be up to date with their medical history and any conditions they might have. Moreover, try to keep your elderly parents engaged with others and make sure someone is available to help them with daily chores. Finally, ensure that they eat healthily and remember to take care of yourself as well. Continue reading and learn how to make your elderly parents’ lives as easy as possible!

Make Sure Someone Is There to Help Them

It’s essential to make sure someone is available to help your parents with daily chores. This way, they’ll be able to live independently and won’t have to move to a nursing home. There are two main ways to help them in this regard.

First, convince other family members to help your parents when necessary. This way, your elderly loved ones will still feel supported and cared for even if you cannot do so personally.

The second approach is to hire a trained carer. Such a professional can help with various tasks, such as cleaning the house and cooking meals. Moreover, they’ll be able to look after your parents and react in an emergency situation. If it turns out your elder parents need to be supervised and helped 24/7, it might be a good idea to take a step further and hire a live-in carer. Make sure to check what makes a good carer before hiring one.

Keep Track of Their Health History

It’s crucial to know all of your parents’ medical history. This includes any conditions they might suffer from, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. In case something happens and you need to call for an ambulance, you’ll have all the information you need. The information about their medical condition can also be helpful when it comes to determining the best age to get life insurance.

Additionally, it’s very helpful to have a list of all the medications they take. If you know the names of the drugs they were given, you’ll be able to both help them stick to the prescribed schedule and buy these substances when your elderly parents run out. It’s also important not to leave any pills lying around, as this may cause confusion and even accidents. For example, your older loved ones might forget that they just took their medication and do it once again.

Help Them Eat Properly

Older adults often forget about healthy food and prefer unhealthy dishes filled with sugar or fat. They can make any of their existing conditions worse. In order to help your parents stay healthy and fit, you should try to encourage them to eat healthily. Try to make them understand that their bodies need all the necessary minerals and vitamins, and there is no better way to get them than sticking to a balanced diet.

You may also want to prepare their favourite dishes from time to time, but make sure they are healthy and light. Ensure that your parents don’t skip meals and eat at least three times a day. Moreover, always check the labels and experiment with the recipes beforehand if you are cooking for them. If you’re not able to come over every day, perhaps you can prepare meals for them in advance and freeze them when you have time. This way, they can simply reheat the food when it’s time for lunch or dinner.

Encourage Your Parents to Stay in Touch With Others

It’s natural for older people to get lonely and depressed, especially if they cannot do things alone or visit friends. In order to prevent this from happening, it’s imperative to ensure that your parents stay in touch with others. You can do so by arranging regular meetings with friends and neighbours or inviting them for dinner or lunch. If you live too far away, consider signing your elderly parents to some clubs or activities they consider interesting.

For example, an excellent way for elder people to socialise is to attend a literature club or chess club. Other great activities include volunteering or taking a course at the local adult school. Try asking your older parents if you don’t know what they would like to do. They might have some great ideas that you wouldn’t have thought of!

Take Care of Yourself, Too

Finally, remember to take care of yourself as well and try to have some time for yourself. As you’ll be spending a lot of time with your elderly parents, it’s essential not to neglect your own needs. Doing so will surely strain your relationships, and you may even become depressed.

Make sure you have enough time for friends and family and try going out regularly. Gently remind your parents that you need some alone time and that they should also spend some time with their friends. After all, they should understand that you won’t be able to help them effectively unless you help yourself too.

Conclusion

If you have elderly parents, you probably know how important it is to ensure they’re properly taken care of. After all, your parents did a tremendous amount of work once you were born and helped you for at least your first 18 years. By helping your older parents now, you both return the favour and enable them to live the lives they deserve, remain happy and healthier than otherwise.

Hopefully, the tips above will help you to achieve that. Remember to keep track of your elderly parents’ nutrition, health conditions, and also – to take care of yourself. Only this way you’ll be able to remain helpful and positive.  Good luck!