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Caregiving for Elderly Parents

Caregiving for elderly parents can be an overwhelming job that falls upon our shoulders within the blink of an eye. While seeing our independent parents slowly becoming dependent hits our hearts with emotional turmoil, the sudden load of caregiving for elderly can leave us shattered and overburdened. But it is important to realize when this shift takes place so that our parents can start garnering the best possible care at the right time. Aging and the effects of aging cannot be reversed, but sound long-term care can certainly promote their constantly deteriorating health and wellbeing.

Even the thought of compromising on our parents’ wellbeing and safety can be disturbing. In the senior years of their lives, when their mental and physical vitality is declining, meticulously caring for mom or dad is most certainly our responsibility. Providing our parents physical, emotional and mental comfort can also help them cope up well with their own old age. If you are concerned about the best way to provide your parents the in-home care that they deserve, here’s an expert guide:

Activities of Daily Living

When the parents, who once taught us to execute all our daily living activities, start facing difficulties in executing them in front of us, they can feel very disturbed and insulted. Activities of Daily Living or ADLs mainly include functional mobility, self-feeding, dressing, bathing and maintaining personal & toilet hygiene.

You need to closely observe if your parents are unable to execute these activities properly. In case they need caregiving for their ADLs, you can begin with individually helping them, whenever required. For more advanced care, you can try involving other family members or invest in some helpful accessories or equipment to make them feel more independent. The last but most reliable resort here can be seeking the assistance of a professional caregiver.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living or IADLs are not fundamental but majorly account for an individual’s independent functioning. These activities mainly include cooking, cleaning, traveling, taking medication, shopping, and home & finance management. Usually, caring for parents under this spectrum of activities involves providing long-term, well-planned, and consistent assistance.

Again, you will be required to assess the areas where your parents need support and then make arrangements accordingly. You can also seek support from community service providers or professional caregivers to set up a comfortable and effective caregiving plan for elderly parents in place.

Making Living Arrangements

In many cases, elderly parents are not residing in close proximity to their children. Or even if they are close by, they need extreme care that’s only possible while living together. This makes caring for mom or dad a troublesome experience for adult children and highlights the need to alter their living arrangements.

Depending upon the comfort of both the parties, they can be transferred to your home or to the nearest professional care home. Assisted living communities are emerging as a preferable way to deal with such caregiving situations with minimum hassles. You can consider this option to offer premium professional care to your parents, without burdening yourself and hurting their pride.

Finance Management

The financial implications of becoming a caregiver overnight cannot be overlooked. Some government programs might be there to help you but you will still need to invest to support the care and wellbeing needs of your parents. Thus, it is better that you plan your finances to back up their living expenses well in time. While at it, do not forget to apply for the related tax relief as a caregiver.

Another aspect of finance management during caregiving for elderly parents is to help manage your parents’ retirement funds and other finances. Playing an active role in assisting them to secure their senior years financially can be very rewarding.

Without a doubt, you will want to give the best care to your loving parents in their old age, but understand that it’s not going to be an easy road. However, transitioning into the role of a caregiver can be made simpler if you follow these small steps.

You can always rely on a professional caregiver or an assisted living facility if their long-term care and safety provisions are affecting your peace of mind and your relationship with them. Remember that they once did everything for you and they deserve to spend their senior years in a loving, comfortable, and caring environment. Happy caregiving for elderly parents!