Watching your parent’s age is a hard thing, but it is inevitable that at some point, they will no longer be as independent as they once were.
Having your parents stay in their homes is a way for them to maintain some normality and independence, despite the fact they may require more help.
Here are some ways of creating a safe space at home for your elderly parents to remain in their own homes safely.
Table of Contents
Assess their Physical Needs
As our parents’ age, they may need specific mobility measures in place to keep them safe. Install active mobility aids in their home to help them adjust to a decreased ability to move freely.
Please consult a doctor with your parents to understand the extent of the activities that they can and cannot do on their own.
Needs may differ, but several conventional mobility aids are often helpful in the elder years. Mobility aids such as bed railings, shower chairs, and portable toilet seats can help your parents daily.
Pets
Pets such as cats and dogs are good company for elderly parents. However, bigger pets may have toys scattered around the house. They may also move around just outside of your parents’ field of view to be spotted.
Minimize the risks of your parents tripping or falling by having a designated area for pets and their toys. Designated areas like this will keep your parents from tripping over pets’ toys or even the pets themselves.
Ask for Help
It can be daunting to take on the role of a caregiver without any additional assistance. Divide the caregiver workload with your siblings or hire a professional caregiver who can assist your parents with their daily living tasks or keep them company while you are away.
Professional caregivers also have more experience in taking care of elderlies, so you know your parents are safe in their care. You might even learn from these professional caregivers on how you can better care for your parents.
Active Lifestyle
People who practice an active lifestyle can stay independent for longer than those with a sedentary one. Ensure that your parents are aware of the physical exercises that they can stick to safety as advised by their doctors.
You can sign your parents up for group fitness classes suitable for the elderly at a local gym or provide them an exercise routine that they can stick to from home.
Be sure to check in on their exercise sessions to ensure that they are working out safely.
Provide Nutritious Meals
Exercises will not do much good if your parents are not eating healthily. A healthy diet is vital to maintain your parents’ physical wellbeing, and your parents are likely to stay active longer when they have fewer pains stemming from health issues.
If you are busy, you can also cook meals in batches, which you can then store in your parents’ freezer to be reheated and consumed at a later date.
Have a look to see if there is a local meals on wheels service available. This will give you peace of mind that your parents are receiving a nutritious meal regularly.
Turn Up for Doctors’ Appointments
Please keep track of your parents’ doctor appointments and make sure that they can get to their appointments. If you are not able to take your parents, look into community transport options.
Health checks grow more and more crucial as your parent’s age, and there may be changes in their healthcare needs. Be sure to be up to date with all their medical needs.
Encourage your parents to voice their concerns on any health issues at doctors’ appointments. As the doctor has a fuller picture of their health needs, steps can be taken to provide your parents with the right treatment and so better peace of mind.
There are a myriad of ways to help your elderly parents, but here are just a few suggestions.
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