On this episode of All Home Care Matters, we are going to be talking about Common Issues to Address when Helping Aging Parents. We’ve gathered some tips, tools, and resources that we think can help you and your aging parents navigate this new, possibly difficult, and confusing path. Now, let’s move on to the rest of the show.

 

Many older adults don’t need any help in their day-to-day lives, but that may change with time, especially as lifespans are increasing and many adults are living well into their 80s, 90s, and some even live into their hundreds. As we get older and older, the likelihood that we will need some sort of help, either from family or from a medical service, increases greatly.

 

At some point, you may find yourself in a position where you will be helping your aging parents. According to Better Health While Aging, family members are by far the number one source of “long-term care supports and services” for older adults, so depending on your proximity to your parents, you most likely will end up helping your parents when they reach a certain age.

 

One of the most common issues to address when helping aging parents is the actual act of helping. Your aging parent may not want to admit they need help, but that is something they are going to have to come to terms with. Make sure you sit down with your loved one and your family to express your concerns for your loved one and establish a plan to help them in whatever ways are necessary.

 

It could be just helping them establish a time when you can take them to the grocery store and to their medical appointments, or it could be a deeper conversation about the type of help you think they need and they think they need. Make sure to keep them in the loop while discussing future plans so they are not completely blindsided. They are less likely to become argumentative if you approach the subject over a period of time and allow them to have input that you seriously consider.

 

When helping aging parents, another concern you will be faced with is their safety, especially when you are unable to be around them all the time. According to AARP, 60 percent of family caregivers are juggling paid work and caregiving. While you are away, you may worry about your loved one, and that’s normal. We all worry about our loved ones, even if they are not in a place where they are needing our help.

 

You and your loved one will need to think about whether or not they should be driving, their financial situation, and even how safe they are in their own home. For some tips and resources to ensure your loved one is safe at home, check out our recent episode on Aging in Place.

 

We’ve talked a lot about caring for the caregiver on this podcast, and today is no exception. It’s important to take care of yourself while you are caring for your loved ones. You should set up boundaries with your loved one and schedule time for yourself in advance. Scheduling ahead of time allows you to ensure that someone you trust, another family member, can be ready to help your loved ones if need be.

 

Medical and health issues are another common issues that you will likely have to address when helping aging parents. Many older adults develop chronic conditions and illnesses as they age and need medication daily to manage them. As we get older, we also have a harder time recovering from illnesses, so you may find yourself helping them recover, much like you would your child. Your loved one may not notice additions symptoms they develop, so going to their doctor appointments with them can ensure they are getting seen and treated for things before they get out of hand. And taking your loved on to their appointments also means you won’t have to worry about them driving themselves.

 

Planning ahead is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to helping aging parents. Before your loved one even comes to the point where you start to wonder if they are beginning to need help, you should sit down and make a plan of what they want to happen, what kind of assistance and care they want, whether they want to stay in their own home, move in with you, or live in a facility if the time comes when they are unable to live alone. Knowing how to use their financial assets ahead of time will also help in making a plan to help your loved one.

 

Better Health While Aging believes that planning ahead tends to reduce later stress, hassles, and sometimes expenses, and we firmly believe this, too.

 

We know this is not an exhaustive list of issues to address when helping aging parents, but we hope it may help you and your loved one and give you an idea of where to start.

 

We want to say thank you for joining us here at All Home Care Matters, All Home Care Matters is here for you and to help families as they navigate long-term care issues. Please visit us at allhomecarematters.com there is a private secure fillable form there where you can give us feedback, show ideas, or if you have questions. Every form is read and responded to. If you know someone is who could benefit from this episode and please make sure to share it with them.

 

Remember, you can listen to the show on any of your favorite podcast streaming platforms and watch the show on our YouTube channel and make sure to hit that subscribe button, so you'll never miss an episode. Join us next time on All Home Care Matters where we will be welcoming a very special guest who will be sharing their experience caring for their son with special needs and the heartwarming journey they both shared.

 

Sources:

https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/what-to-address-when-helping-older-parents/

 

https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2015/valuing-the-invaluable-2015-update.html