Something that most adults have to deal with as they age is that their parent's age too. In many cases, once your children are raised and independent, it may time to begin care giving for your aging elderly parents. There are several issues that arise at this time, and because many elderly people are unable to fully care for themselves, you need to find a positive solution for the situation that makes them feel loved and valued.
Step 1
Travel with them to their next physician's appointment. It is important to remain in touch with your parent's overall physical and mental health. The best way to do this is by taking them to their doctor's appointment. Ask the physician if there is anything you can do to help them remain healthy or get better. You may have to be a health care power of attorney to get full access to their health care records or you can ask the physician questions about your parents' health with them present. HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, strictly enforces doctor-patient confidentially issues. Keep that in mind when talking about health care services with medical staff.
Step 2
Assess their living conditions. It is important to observe how your parents are living, especially if they are entirely independent. Make sure the house is clean and that the overall condition is sufficient and suitable for their lifestyle. If you notice that some things are neglected or not kept up, it could be an indication that your parents are having trouble physically keeping up with household duties.
Step 3
Provide support. Try to help as much as you can. Offer to mow the grass, run errands, provide housecleaning and change linens. You may have to take over finances such as paying the bills and creating a household budget as their lifestyle changes. Needing more money for prescriptions or dietary supplements may cause problems with their budget, so make the necessary adjustments so debt does not incur.
Step 4
Discuss end-of-life issues. Discussing where your parents will spend their last months or years of life can be challenging and difficult. If they need more help than what you can give them, it may time to transition from home to assisted living or senior living. Assisted living provides independent living but also has around-the-clock medical care and housekeeping services. Senior living is independent living but in a setting that is convenient and accessible for seniors. You may have to move a parent to a skilled nursing care facility if they are unable to care for themselves, explains Medicare. Medicare pays for a variety of services. Hospice care may also be introduced if your parent was diagnosed with a life-limiting or terminal illness. Preplanning your parent's funeral and discussing burial arrangements should also be something you should discuss and plan ahead on.
Step 5
Seek outside support. There may be some things that you cannot handle on your own. Bringing in outside support will help simplify life for you and your parents. Home health services that include housekeepers, home health aides, nurses, social workers and medication delivery will help make sure your parents get the help they need if they are unable to leave the home. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends financial resources such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program for low-income elderly persons who qualify. Contact your local welfare office for an application.
Tips and Warnings
- Elderly parents may have special needs related to Alzheimer's disease, cancer or other diseases that will require around-the-clock care. Be sure to have all the resources in place to make this easier.
