A Guide To Caring For Older Parents At Home
Most elderly are happy to grow old in the homes they’ve always lived in. Unfortunately, when health and mobility issues kick in, it may be time for your loved one to move into a care home, or into the home of an adult child. If you can’t bear the thought of seeing your parent go into care, and you would like to take over duties, this is a decision that should never be taken lightly. Exploring the option of providing home care can be a viable alternative for ensuring your elderly loved one's well-being and happiness.
Of course, you’ll want to do everything in your power to keep your elderly parent safe and secure, so here is a guide on what steps to take to keep your loved one happy.
Assess Their Care Needs
The most important step is to establish how much care your elderly parent requires. Whether they’re of sound mind or have Alzheimer’s, there will be a range of things that need to be talked about and written down before you decide to become their carer. If you take on too many duties at once, this can lead to burnout. Once you list the tasks your loved one needs help with, this can give you a detailed overview of what level of care is needed, and when. This is especially the case for their dental health as our teeth deteriorate as we grow old. We can help them do a healthy dental care routine at home, however, it is still necessary to check out this dentist in Naperville or one near you so they can diagnose any issues that may arise and recommend treatments to fix them.
Share the Load
You should never think you’re in this alone when it comes to caring for an elderly parent. Whether you have family members who you can rely on, or you need to hire outside help, don’t feel guilty about sharing the load. If your loved one is moving in and you’re providing 24/7 care and assistance, it can feel like your own life has been stripped away. There is help and resources out there to support you, so if things get too much, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone.
Make Your Home Accessible
If your elderly loved one is moving in, it’s time to assess your home to ensure that it’s safe and free of hazards. As your parent gets older, they’ll be more prone to slips and falls, which can be life-threatening in some cases. As well as buying slip mats and handrails, which will make your home more accessible, there are nursing beds from medical-supermarket.com that can provide specialist support and comfort for your loved one. Small modifications to your home can make a big impact, so make sure you buy the right supplies and equipment to keep your elderly parent safe.
Don’t Neglect Self-Care
During your time as a caregiver, you need to have time away from your duties. While you may want to spend every waking hour tending to your loved one, you need to have some ‘me’ time so you can do the things you love. Whether you go for a run, catch up with friends, take up a hobby, or play sports, you need to prioritise your own needs too.
Seeing your parent’s health and mobility decline can be difficult to witness. While the aging process is inevitable and cannot be reversed, there are things you can do and put in place to ensure your loved one is receiving the best care possible.