Blog > Elder Care: Tips To Care For Your Older Parent

Elder Care: Tips To Care For Your Older Parent

Elder Care: More adults than ever before are aging in place.

This is due to the fact that seniors value their independence over certain conveniences that come with daily assistance. Keep this in mind as you care for your elderly parents. Investigate ways to put them at ease with the idea of having elder care providers. If this is not something you or your parents are comfortable with you may have to step in to take the place that elder care would. Here are some of the best tips you can use to remember when you are caring for your aging loved one.

Focus on Communication

Making a family plan is the first step toward becoming a caregiver for your parents. You must understand how much assistance your parents are willing to provide. Expect to give up some of your expectations in order to respect your parents’ wishes.

Caring for elderly parents will not come naturally at first, but with practice, you will be able to develop a rhythm in which you are both speaking the same language without offense. Allow your parents to lead the way, and make backup plans for any ideas that seem too risky. You can’t put your parents’ health and safety at risk just to avoid hurting their feelings. Refuse any ideas that put their lives in danger.

Split Your Duties

Remember it is not just you. When a professional elder care provider comes to help it is usually a team and they have the relief they need when they get off their shift. However, when a child becomes the caregiver this relief may not happen.

You shouldn’t want to control or dominate your parents’ life, but help them when it is needed. You can split up responsibilities between you and the senior but also your other family members. It may take more than you to ensure the senior citizens are safe for the rest of their life.

Set Boundaries With The Senior

You will be asked to do things that are outside of your comfort zone as a caregiver. While some things are reasonable, others limit what you can lovingly provide. Other times you may be missing things in your own life or your kids’ lives to help take care of your parents. Early on when you first agree to do this, make it clear what priorities you have and make the boundaries.

If you need to go to your child’s school it is important that the senior knows when so you appear less flakey. If you cannot agree to a schedule or other things it may be time to call in part-time help. You may want to take care of your parents but sometimes it is not always realistic to do so. Elder care can be one of the best investments for your seniors even if they only come during the day for a few hours. Talk to your family about this decision first.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering hiring
Home Health Care in Longmont, CO, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home today at 303-255-4071.