Whether you promised your mom that you’ll never put her in a nursing home or your dad not to take him away from his family, you are responsible for taking care of your parents. For a myriad of reasons, caregivers choose to care for the elderly at home. Although leaving elderly parents at home is a great notion for as much as it is a safe situation for everyone involved, the responsibility of caring for them can be hectic and overwhelming. On that note, read on to know six great tips to care for your elderly parents conveniently.

1. Understand Their Needs

Caring for elderly parents may be overwhelming because you don’t know exactly what to do. To deal with this problem, put effort into understanding their daily life needs. You can start with seven basic things almost all elderly adults require. Family support, safety, medications, hygiene, mobility, food, and socializing, are the most important aspects for an elderly person. You should know how much support they need in every category and act accordingly. For example, you can hire a driver for doctor appointments if you’re unavailable. You can also set meals and groceries deliveries and hire a caregiver to cook.

2. Think About Your Needs Too

Before you get all excited and take the initiative to care for your elderly parents on your own, you need to think about your current situation and abilities. You need to ask yourself these questions:

• Are you physically able to take care of someone?
• Do you live nearby?
• Are you willing to live with your parents?
• Do you have enough time for them?

The answers to these questions will tell you how capable you are to care for your elderly folk. Simply, if you’re not fit for this big responsibility, the best thing to do is to find alternatives. You may be inclined to hire the first option you see from your research, however, the gurus at a 5-star Brighton care facility suggest that a dedicated team of professionals can easily take care of elderly people and provide them with the utmost comfort. So, if you’re unable to take care of your elderly parents on your own, hire a caregiver or send them to a nursing home, where they can be supported and cared for.

3. Involve Your Parents

The best thing you can do for your elderly folk is to include them in every decision that concerns them. Make them feel like they didn’t lose control over their lives by giving them options and asking for their advice. While aging adults may think unclearly or irrationally, they will still feel appreciated that you keep them involved. Moreover, don’t force your decisions on them unless the situation is critical and their lives are in danger. You can start by getting them to accept help for a reason or two, then gradually they can get accustomed to receiving the help they need.

4. Assess Your Financial Status

You need to prepare yourself financially before you start caring for an older person. Caring for your parents costs a lot of money, especially when you hire people to provide them with their needs. Think thoroughly about the cost of their medications, their living situation – whether it’s in a nursing facility or at your place, and everyday costs including food, supplies, and safety precautions.

5. Keep Their Home Safe

It is mandatory to keep your parents’ house hazard-free to ensure that they don’t fall, trip, or get hurt. When you prevent falls, they can live independently for as long as possible. To do that, make sure that the walkways and floors are clear from cords, clutter, and rugs. Update the house’s lighting to ensure that all the rooms are bright and the switches are accessible. Try to keep everything they need in reach to avoid using step-stools or bend down.

6. Facilitate Communication Tools

In case of an emergency, your parents need to have their phones ready to use to call for help. They also need to be in touch with their friends and family to avoid isolation and solitude. Therefore, you need to ensure that their phones are constantly charged and their contact lists are accessible.

Elderly care is one of the most difficult and stressful jobs ever. As a result, caregivers are at a very high risk of burnout and health conditions. Therefore, if you’re caring for an elderly person at home, it is important to proceed at your own pace. It’s okay to continue to provide wonderful care as long as you can stay as healthy as possible by adjusting your own pace and getting support.

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