If you are thinking about helping your elderly mom or dad to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible, there are a number of things that you can do to help them right now. Some of these things you might already know, others you might not. Here, we’ve compiled a short list of four easy things that you can help your parents with today to help make their lives easier keep a little more of their independence. Hopefully you can find a few things here that will be useful.
Upgrade Bathrooms
You hear all the time that most accidents within the home occur within the bathroom, but have you done anything to help make your parent’s life easier here yet? Making a few small upgrades can increase their safety a lot. It’s really easy to take bathing and grooming tasks for granted, but once they become difficult, then a danger is posed. Installing safety bars can be a big help, and many of these don’t even need to be drilled into place now. They are effective when it comes to helping, and they are pretty cheap as far as upgrades go. Bathing and toilet chairs are also pretty inexpensive, and they also provide a lot of the same purpose that bars do.
Use Technology
Is your mom or dad online? If they are, then this is an easy one. If not, then it might be a little more difficult to help them embrace technology. But when someone has limited mobility, being able to video chat with a family member becomes an easy way to stay in touch. You can also order groceries online and have them delivered or ready to pick up at the store. There are limitless things that you can do with technology, and finding a few that will help make life easier shouldn’t be too difficult.
Downsize
If your parent still lives in their old home, there’s a good chance that they just have too much house for their needs. Not only is this tough to maintain, it is an extra expense. When someone is on a fixed income, cutting costs here and there can be a huge help. Talk with your mom or dad to see where they fall here. Maybe they are perfectly happy where they are and upkeep and expenses aren’t an issue. But if it is, they might want to consider a smaller and easier to afford and maintain living space.
Get Help
Above all, it’s important to know that situations can change. Paraphrasing what the poet Robert Burns once famously said, even the best laid plans of mice and man can go astray. If professional senior care is needed in some capacity, be it the intensive setting of a skilled nursing facility or the subtle touch of an in-home caregiver, these resources should be used. While independence is a major goal of some, it needs to take a back seat to safety and health. When care is needed, you should use it.
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