1. Plan for Long-Term Care and Medical Care
Whether you like to think about it or not, there will come a time when your parents can no longer care for themselves. While that time may still be far away, it's important that you plan for it well in advance so there are no surprises when you actually have to make that decision. If your parents are still in good health, talk to them to see what their wishes are. Would they prefer to stay at home and have help or would they rather go somewhere where they are cared for 24/7? Planned communities can be quite expensive but are a great option for independent seniors, so you should consider them as well.
2. Make the Home Easier to Navigate
Elderly people are more prone to slips and falls and have a harder time reaching high spaces or getting up and down steps or rising from furniture. One way you can help is by making the home safer through the installation of rubber mats in bathtubs, on outdoor steps and on other slippery surfaces in order to prevent falls. Handles or elevated seats can help elderly people stand up from chairs or the toilet and can help them when walking up stairs. Finally, make sure everything is within reach, so there is no need to use steps or reach overhead to get something. Many companies sell items such as reachers and levers to help elderly people grab or open items with less difficulty.
3. Integrate Them Into the Family Life
As parents get older and lose mobility, it's easy for them to isolate themselves from family activities. Elderly people may move slower, have special requirements when it comes to food or rest and suffer from eye or ear problems that prevents them from fully enjoying outings with the family. If you find that's the case, don't resort to excluding them as a solution. Isolation may result in depression and anxiety and can cause medical issues such as high blood pressure and asthma to worsen. Rather than excluding them from family life, plan special activities for them to join in or spend days quietly at home sharing lunch or afternoon tea.
