While it is okay to approach life by living in the present, a little prior planning can save you money, time, stress, and headaches in the future. This is especially true when it comes to caring for aging parents. You have to establish a long-term care plan for your seniors in time to enhance their comfort, safety, and foster a sense of familiarity. Here are the crucial steps to take to achieve success in caring for elderly parents.
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Set Expectations
The first step is to meet with your aging parents to set expectations and establish boundaries. Let your parents tell you about their care goals and specific needs. Some older adults only need help running errands, while others may require help with household chores.
Those with complex medical conditions, such as dementia, require more care and help to perform an array of daily tasks, including bathing, eating, and dressing. Once you understand your parent's care needs, let them know what you can do as a caregiver and what you might need to coordinate with at-home care service providers.
Make Living Arrangements
Another crucial step is to decide where the care will occur. If you intend to be the caregiver, you can do so in your parents' home or transfer them to your place. But if your parents have advanced care needs, they may be more comfortable and safer in assisted living communities with 24-hour access to healthcare. For seniors dealing with mobility or bladder issues, having access to practical solutions like clothing for incontinence support can help maintain their comfort and dignity. Adaptive clothing designed specifically for seniors, such as easy-access bras with front closures, can also help maintain independence and dignity during daily dressing routines. Identify the most suitable facility and inform them about your aging parent's care needs and how they can help.
Create a Robust Support System
It is crucial to be surrounded by a robust support system when caring for your elderly relative. This will help you avoid feeling trapped and experiencing burnout, exhaustion, and depression. Talk to your siblings to see if you can share care responsibilities so that you all have free time to focus on other aspects of life, like your career.
Having time to do what you love will motivate and energize you to continue your caregiving duties. If your siblings are not around, consider engaging the services of a professional caregiver, even if it is on a part-time basis. This will enable you to step back and have time for yourself.
Keep Financial Assistance in Mind
As your parents continue to age, they need someone to guide them in managing their finances. A lot goes into your parent's financial guidance, including coordinating and paying bills, keeping life insurance plans up to date, and handling medical appointments.
Luckily, there is a wide array of assistance programs that your seniors can benefit from. This may include government financial assistance, such as military veteran assistance, disability coverage, healthcare coverage, and more. You can also check if you are eligible for funding programs and other financial services for seniors in your local area.
Provide Proper Nutrition
If you are caring for your aging loved ones at home, ensure you provide well-balanced meals. Most seniors risk suffering from malnutrition due to their inability to shop and prepare their food, as well as their lack of stamina.
This makes them eat processed foods with low nutritional value or skip meals. Use healthy eating resources to guide you in providing your loved ones with healthy, nutritious meals that align with their dietary restrictions.
Caring for your aging parents at home is a labor of love. However, you must ensure that you balance your well-being and your parents' lives to avoid burnout and feeling trapped. Find the necessary help and resources to ensure everything is a success.
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