All The Dos And Don’ts Of Caring For Elderly Parents
As the saying goes, ‘time waits for no man.’ That means there is no way we can stop the clock and turn back time. We will get older, just like the people around us. As time goes by, and your parents start to age, you will have to be there for them a lot more often.
Caring for ageing parents can be a tricky situation to get used to. It could be frustrating for both parties at first as you struggle to cope with the role reversal. You will now be responsible for your parents, as opposed to in your childhood when it was the other way around. There are some other problems you might face as a family. Your partner and children may find this a difficult situation to cope with, especially if your old parents move in with you. And your parents could find it hard to give up a certain amount of their independence.
However, it doesn’t have to be as bad as all that may sound. In fact, it is entirely possible that you, your parents, and your family can easily adapt to this new situation. It just takes a bit of time. To make it easier for you, I’ve come up with this blog post. It’s full of the dos and don’ts of looking after ageing parents.
Do Talk To Your Family Before Your Parents Move In
If your parents are getting frailer with age, you will no doubt be wondering whether they should move in with your family. This will help keep them closer to you, so you can always be there for them if they ever need any help. However, this isn’t an easy decision to make. After all, it will also affect your partner and children. So try not to make the decision yourself and force the outcome on your family. Otherwise, this will only lead to endless arguments. Instead, talk it through with them. If you all talk about the advantages and disadvantages together, you will be far more likely to come to a decision that you all agree on.
Don’t Ignore Mobility Issues
Your parents will likely suffer from mobility issues once they are of a certain age. Even though this is just because of their old age, you shouldn’t ignore these problems. There are a number of ways that you can make life easier for them. You should think about getting some special home adaptations, no matter whether they live with you or on their own. Handrails and step lifts can really help your parents get around the house easily. There are also some appliances and pieces of equipment that can help with everyday chores and tasks. But don’t push your parents to do tasks that they are unable to. Know that they have their limits.
Do Encourage Them To Be Independent
If your parents do end up moving in with you, you should still encourage them to lead an independent life. This can help them to keep their spirits up. If they are able to get out of the house, then you should let them help you by going to the shops or walking the kids to school. It is also a good idea to encourage them to regularly meet up with their friends. It is also a good idea to see what kind of local clubs they could join to keep them busy. For instance, bridge clubs and walking groups are favourites of retirees.
Do Spend Time With The Whole Family
It is important that you spend time with your parents together as a whole family. There will be many differences between your children and parents, but it is still important for them to spend time together. This is especially important if your parents are living with you. The more your parents get to know their grandparents will mean that there is a much smaller risk of them clashing. And this will make your home life a whole lot easier. It is also important to try and motivate your partner to get involved as well. By helping to create a bond between everyone, you can help to improve relations. Which can make this new living situation a lot easier for everyone involved.
It is only natural to feel a bit of extra stress once you start to care for elderly parents. Especially if they move in with you. However, by following this list of dos and don’ts, you, your family, and your parents will find the new situation a whole lot easier to deal with.