If your aging parent requires professional assistance, contact Voyager Home Health Care to discuss the different care options available. (719)-401-5654.
Caring For an Elderly Parent: A Checklist of Things to Consider
As a parent becomes older and requires more help, you will often face many uncertainties as you try to navigate this new situation. This can include understanding the care options available in Colorado, identifying your parent’s changing needs, and helping them make informed decisions.
For anyone unsure where to begin, the process can feel overwhelming and emotionally draining. To make things easier, this checklist highlights key areas to focus on while caring for an elderly parent.
Evaluate Their Needs
Many aspects of daily life shape a parent’s happiness and well-being, and reviewing all these needs at once can feel daunting. Breaking them into a few main categories can help. Common areas to review include:
- Medical needs
- Home safety (e.g., mobility)
- Daily assistance (e.g., personal hygiene, meal preparation)
- Docial interaction
- Cognitive health
Going through a parent’s needs for each area can help you determine where they need help.
Who Should Help Care for Your Elderly Parent? Family vs. Professional Support
Once you know the areas where your loved one needs help, it is crucial to determine who will provide the assistance.
Ask yourself if you have the time, capacity, and willingness to take on this role. Caring for an elderly parent can be a major commitment that many people underestimate.
When family caregivers are not an option, alternatives include hired caregivers or homemakers, depending on the areas in need of help. For elderly parents needing medical help, an RN or CNA is another option that can bring exceptional medical care directly to your loved one’s house.
How to Improve Home Safety for an Aging Parent
For parents who want to remain in their homes, it is important to complete a few fixes to help increase their safety and reduce the risk of injuries.
This can include:
- Adding grab bars or shower seats in the bathroom
- Moving items from hard-to-reach shelves
- Removing area rugs or placing non-skid mats underneath and securing corners
Make Communication Accessible for Older Adults
Many people consider only the physical needs a loved one may need help with when getting older, ignoring the harm that isolation and loneliness can cause to someone’s mental health.
To help, make sure that your parent’s phone is easily accessible and easy to use so they can easily keep in touch with their family and friends. Communication is also important when they are in a medical emergency, and they need to be able to quickly call for help.
Involve Your Parent in Their Care Decisions
One of the most meaningful steps when caring for a parent is involving them in the decision-making process. This approach helps your parent stay engaged in their care and supports their sense of control over daily life.
Some elderly parents resist change, so patience and consistent communication are important as you discuss increasing support. A gradual increase in assistance often works better than introducing a large amount of help all at once.
Easing the Transition to Elderly Home Care in Colorado
As parents age, it can be hard to determine when they need help, and sometimes even more challenging to get them to agree to the help.
By following the above checklist, you can pinpoint the areas your loved one needs help and introduce in-home care gradually. This approach creates a smoother transition, reduces stress, and helps your loved one stay safe, comfortable, and supported at home.
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