It is difficult to see your parents begin to age and lose their independence, especially if they live by themselves. You will want to do everything that you can to support them during this time, but this is not always easy when you have your own life and family to consider. There are a number of things that you can do to improve the life of an aging parent, and hopefully, this will make a big difference and give you some peace of mind. So, if you have a parent that is aging and beginning to struggle, then read on for a few suggestions.
Talk To Them
First, you need to ensure that communication is not an issue. It can be a complex subject to bring up, but you need to discuss the situation with them and the future. You should ask them what they are struggling with and ask how you can help, as well as what their requests are for the future. Keep in mind that some parents may not be forthcoming, so you may need to look out for signs that they are struggling. These include:
Unkempt appearance
Poor personal hygiene
Wearing the same clothes
Losing weight
Bruises
No food in the fridge
Messy house
Attend Appointments With Them
Medical appointments are a common part of getting old. They can still be stressful and upsetting, though, which is why you should offer to attend these appointments with them for moral support. Not only this, but accompanying will give you a chance to gain a deeper understanding of their health and any problems that they are having. You can also ask their doctor questions and discover the best things that you can be doing to provide the ideal level of support at this time.
Find Ways To Simplify Life
Once you have a better idea of their situation and any problems that they are having, you can then find ways to simplify and improve their life. If they are struggling to get to the shops, for example, then you can arrange for them to have their food shopping delivered each week. If they are struggling with keeping the house clean, then you could arrange for a cleaner to come in or share the cleaning with others in the family.
Build A Support Network
Following this, you should also try to build a support network for your parents. It can be tough to look after them entirely by yourself, especially if you have a job, your own kids, and other responsibilities. This is why you should build a network of people that can help out, keep an eye on them and spend quality time with them. This can include siblings, other family members, family friends, and even neighbors. You could set up a WhatsApp group as a way to keep everyone connected so that it is easy to share information.
Discuss Assisted Living
Looking after an aging parent is difficult, and sometimes it is best to move them into an assisted living facility. This could be because you do not have the time to provide the level of care that they need, or perhaps they need medical care that you are unable to deliver. In these situations, residences like Rocky Mountain Assisted Living are perfect. This is because your parent can get professional and compassionate support but are still able to enjoy a level of freedom and independence.
Additionally, these places have a sense of community that will encourage socialization and regular activity. Often, seniors get a new lease on life by moving into an assisted living facility because they get more social interactions, better care, and facilities that can allow for a decent quality of life. They also get as much or as little support as needed, so they still have complete control over their lives and independence.
Involve Them In Your Life
Finally, you should try to involve them in your life and spend quality time with them. They do not want to become a chore or a burden to you, so it is important to still have fun and involve them in family activities. It is difficult as they start to age, and you will inevitably have to give them more support, but this should not damage the relationship, and you want to spend quality time with them when you can.
Hopefully, the advice in this post will be useful and help you to take good care of your parents as they start to age. It is not easy seeing your parents begin to age, and it is essential that you do what you can to help.
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