It can be daunting if you are an adult child who is now tasked with caring for aging parents. It is important to remember how much they love and care for you. While not being able to take care of your elderly parents in person is difficult, this doesn’t mean their needs should go unattended. There are many ways that you can assist them in the best way possible while still maintaining your own life. Read on to learn more about the steps you should take as you care for your aging parent.
Pick Up the Phone
When you are caring for someone from afar, you must identify their needs and care for them based on those requirements. While this may seem obvious, it’s not always easy to accomplish.
After you’ve identified what your parent needs, try to figure out how you can help.
Get to know the person they are now by asking them questions. Ask what they need, would like, or don’t want. Ask them about their favorite foods and activities, and people in their life.
Look for opportunities to give your parent a small dose of independence and control over their day-to-day life so that they have more confidence in themselves as adults who still have value in this world. If possible, help them find hobbies or jobs that allow them to feel valuable and productive outside of the home environment; this will do wonders for your loved one’s self-esteem as well!
Get Help From Other Family Members
The best way to help your parent is to get family members to help. You should consider asking other family members for assistance, such as siblings or aunts and uncles. It may be beneficial to hire professional caregivers who can provide the right tools and be more experienced at caring for an older person in need of assistance.
Talk To The Physician
Your parent’s doctor can tell you if there are any medications or treatments that could help improve their condition and make life easier for them and themselves. They can also point out other resources available in the area, such as senior centers or home health services, which may benefit your parent’s specific situation.
When asking about these things, it’s also important to remember that all medications come with side effects and risks (even over-the-counter ones). It’s important to weigh those risks against the potential benefits before deciding treatment options.
Schedule Regular Phone Calls
Scheduling regular phone calls with your aging parent is essential in helping them feel connected. If your loved one doesn’t have dementia or memory loss, it’s a good idea to ask them what they need and want. If they can’t remember why they’re upset in the first place, ask them to tell you again every time this happens so that you can help them through it.
If your loved one does have dementia or memory loss, it’s important not to argue with them when they say things that aren’t true — even if those things are hurtful. Instead of arguing with them about whether something happened or not when in reality, the incident never occurred, try saying something like “I know this must be hard for you,” and then change the subject by asking how their day has been going so far today.”
Visit as Often as You Can
Visiting your aging parent as often as possible is the best thing you can do for them. There are many benefits to seeing, many of which have to do with maintaining independence. Family members’ visits give your loved one’s energy and help them feel like they matter, which keeps them happy and healthy.
