Aging can be difficult. Most elderly need help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating. As a result, their routine will be different from when they were younger. You must support your elderly parents, especially if they live alone. Use these five tips to help your elderly parents.
Communicate Regularly
Your parent wants to be sure you are okay and still love them. They also want to know what is going on in your life. That will give them peace and make them happy. So, communicate with your parents regularly through phone calls, text messages, or video calls. Tell them about your routines and achievements.
It is not only about receiving information but also about giving it. Sharing what you are doing with your parents will make them feel like they are part of your life, even when you live far apart. The bonding will wade off anxiety and depression, two common conditions among the elderly.
Get a caregiver if they have nobody to stay with. A helper will ensure your parents have someone to chat with, help with house chores, and monitor their wellbeing. Also, the caregiver can take your parent to social gatherings, such as clubs and religious meetings.
Protect Their Health
In old age, the immune system weakens, and the body is more vulnerable to diseases. Common age-related health problems include arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. As a result, your parents are likely to experience a decline in their health. Do everything you can to ensure they live healthily.
The elderly should eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Also, help your parent visit the doctor for regular checkups. Doing so will ensure you control any condition before it worsens. Also, talk with the doctor and ask him to prescribe medications to help your parents stay healthy.
Watch their hygiene and ensure their living environment is clean. Incontinence in old age is common. Adult briefs and diapers will go a long way in keeping your old parents clean and comfortable. Buy them adult bed pads to keep their bedding clean and dry. Also, help them take regular baths, trim their hair and nails, and brush their teeth.
Keep Their Minds Sharp
Mental health is one fundamental aspect you should never take for granted, especially in old age. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are common mental health problems in the elderly. Other health conditions that can lead to a decline in mental health include stroke, high blood pressure, and depression.
You can help keep your parents’ minds sharp by improving their moods. Determine what makes them happy and do more of those things. Also, get them to socialize as much as possible. Isolation is one significant factor that can cause anxiety. Register them for social events, like ballroom dancing, Zumba, or knitting classes.
You can also help them keep their minds sharp by doing mental exercises with them. Card games, memory quizzes, and word puzzles are all excellent exercises for the brain. Doing such activities will help your parents’ minds stay sharp. In the process, they will live better.
Provide Financial Support
You understand that aged parents cannot work to earn a livelihood. All their needs, including food, shelter, and clothes, will come from you. Never wait until they ask for money before you provide it. Call in regularly to see what they need. Buy foodstuffs that can last them some weeks and clothes that they can wear for months.
Get help from other family members if you cannot provide for all their needs, especially if you have many siblings. You can set up a group chat where everyone can contribute monthly to support your parents. Also, you can take turns and visit them and provide for their needs when it is your turn.
Help Them Manage Their Assets
What does your parent own and wants to leave behind? Have a discussion with them about their assets, including property and investments. Also, find out their final wishes regarding their belongings. Help them make a will stipulating how they want their assets divided among their beneficiaries.
Assets management is crucial in old age because it helps prevent fights among siblings. Also, it ensures everyone respects your parents’ final wishes. That means nobody will do what the parent did not want regarding their belongings. Planning also helps your parents have peace of mind in their last days.
Also, help your parents get life insurance coverage. The money will cater to any debts they may have and help settle any final expenses, like funeral costs. A life insurance policy will also take care of you and other beneficiaries financially after your parents are gone. But be sure to enroll them early because most companies do not insure people over 70 years.
Conclusion
Aged parents need all the support they can get from their children. However, it can be challenging to determine what they need and how to execute it. Use this post as a guide to help you take care of your parents in their old age. But ensure you involve them in the process to keep them happy. Seniors do not like it when you do everything for them. Also, remember to enjoy their last moments with them because they will not be around forever.
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