7 Ways to Prepare your Parents to Age at Home
According to AARP, almost 90 percent of people over 65 want to stay in their homes as they age. Most of our parents would agree to receive in-home care services to aid in their ability to remain at home as they grow older.
As our parents age, we want them to feel comfortable as others start to care for them. Though they may be reluctant to ask for help, it’s crucial to recognize their needs.
Here are some tips to prepare your parents to age at home.
1. Start with a Plan
Talk to your parents about what’s important to them as they grow older. Learn about their priorities and discuss what you can do to help them navigate through their golden years. Topics such as staying in their current home or moving closer to family members can help you start planning. Address concerns through questions, then let your parents draw conclusions and make choices.
2. Focus on your Parent’s Health
Your parents are more likely to experience health issues due to their age. It’s necessary to address these issues with your parents. Have they consulted a doctor about it? How does it affect their everyday lives? Once you are familiar with their health issues, it’s important to share this information with everyone involved in their care.
Learn as much as you can about your parents’ conditions and how they typically progress.
Use a health tracking app such as VerifyCare, to record vitals and activities. This type of app allows you to store important information on your parents’ health.
3. Address Safety Concerns in their Home
According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), falls are the number one cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for seniors in the United States. CDC states one out of four older adults will fall each year in the United States, making falls a public health concern, particularly among the aging population.
You can reduce the risk of falls by taking precautions. Use assistive devices such as non-slip mats for stairs and handrails for both sides of the stairway. For bathrooms, install grab bars next to the tub/shower and near the toilet. Reducing the risk of falls helps your aging parents to stay independent for as long as possible.
4. Understand your Parents’ Routine and Assistance Needs
Learn about your parents’ routine in detail and identify all the tasks they need help with. It may be apparent they need help with daily tasks such as preparing meals, managing medications, and running errands; however, identifying clear boundaries helps reduce the risks of accidents. This can also help keep you all on a consistent schedule by establishing dates/times when these tasks need to be completed.
To compile a list of the tasks they need help with, use a mobile app such as VerifyCare to schedule and record tasks. Within the app, you can create a schedule for when these tasks need to be done and how often.
5. Don’t Forget to Take Time for Yourself
While your aging parents need consistent care, remember to take care of yourself too. The stress of caring for your parents can lead to emotional and mental strain when balancing your own busy life. It’s okay to ask for help. Trying to manage everything on your own might lead you to burn out. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
6. Don’t be Afraid to Ask Others for Help
Be realistic on which tasks you can and can’t do for your parents. Ask other family members to help you in caring for them. Be clear on what you need from them and when you need it. Distributing tasks between family members can lighten the burden not only for you but for everyone involved in your parents’ care
7. Effectively Communicate Caregiving Responsibilities
Now that you have help in caring for your aging parents, you need to coordinate caregiving responsibilities. With everyone’s busy schedule, it’s possible to overlook tasks assigned to them. Create a daily plan for your parents’ care. Communicate with others to review the responsibilities assigned to them.
Provide the Best Care for Your Parents
These tips on taking care of your aging parents in their home can serve as an initial guide on providing the best care they need.
Organizing care for aging parents can be an overwhelming task. With a mobile app like VerifyCare, you have the caregiving support tool you and your parents need.
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