4 Tips for Taking Care of Aging Parents at Home

Today, getting older doesn’t automatically mean going to a nursing home. More and more aging adults are choosing to stay at home. Maintaining complete independence can be challenging, however. You may have decided to offer help. Here are four tips for helping to care for your aging parents at home in Chevy Chase.

Do Some Research

If your parents are dealing with a specific illness that is affecting their ability to care for themselves, take some time to learn about it. Research can arm you with information that can be beneficial to you as well as your parents.

Consider Any Necessary Legal Changes

Speak with your parents about any legal documents that they have and collect them all together in a safe location. This includes documents such as living wills, health care proxies, power of attorney, bank account information, and more. If necessary, help your parents to make any changes. This might include giving you the power of attorney or adding you to the bank account so that you can help to pay bills.

Seek Out Resources

There are numerous local resources out there that can help you to provide care for your parents. You may look into meal delivery, transportation, or organized events for seniors. Having chevy chase home care can also be beneficial for helping your parents while you are at work or otherwise unable to be there

Take Care of Yourself

Taking care of your parents on top of taking care of your family and holding a full-time job can be exhausting. You may become stressed and overwhelmed, which can affect the care you can provide. Your mental health may suffer as can your relationships with friends and other family members. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all on your own.

Just because your parents are getting older, that doesn’t mean that they have to give up their independence. With the help of family and local resources, they can remain in the place they love most.

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3 Tips for Taking Care of Your Aging Parents

Are your parents getting older? Are you starting to feel responsible for their well-being in ways that you didn't when you were younger? It happens to everyone eventually, but the good news is that you don't have to struggle through it without knowing what to do. Here are three tips for taking care of your parents as they become senior citizens.

1. Make Modifications to Their Home

Don't let your parents slip and fall. Install hand rails for stairs, steps, bathtubs and front porches; put grips on the walls to help them navigate steep hallways; level the floor so that they don't stumble over inclined ground. You might also want to look into things like automated lights that will flicker on when they detect noise or movement. You can keep your parents safe and alert even if they're losing mobility.

2. Hire Some Help

This is a nice compromise if your parents don't want to move into a nursing home but aren't quite able to function by themselves. Elder care assistance comes in many forms, including home health aides, and they can help your parents with things like cleaning, bathing, taking their prescriptions and getting to their appointments on time. Your parents will remain independent while also getting a helping hand when they need it the most.

3. Spend More Time With Them

This might sound like a no-brainer, but most parents would prefer face-time with their children over a dozen specialized hand rails. Try to make some time in your schedule for them. Senior citizens are prone to loneliness, but studies have shown that you can boost their health, mood and even brain function by socializing with them. All you have to do is pick up the phone and ask your mom if she wants to grab lunch.

These are just a few things to keep in mind as your parents get older and start relying on you for help. If you want to pay them back for all of your good childhood memories, take care of them now. They need you.

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