Our parents have always been the ones we turn to for help. It’s only natural for them to always see us as their little children, no matter how old we’ve become. Things change when our parents get older. Gradually, they start needing our help, and even though it’s natural, it’s really difficult for them to accept it, which makes helping them somehow a bit challenging. This is when the struggle starts; you want to do the best for your ageing parents, but they just won’t accept it.
No matter how strongly your parents refuse your help, you never stop doing everything you can to help them. To help make it easier for you, we bring you 6 great ways to help your elderly parents that will surely succeed.
1. Listen to Them
Remember how much you resented it when your mum and dad made decisions they believed to be in your best interest? When you’re an adult and your parents still sometimes find themselves doing this, you resent it, even more, so don’t expect them to like it when you do the same thing. Everyone needs to feel respected and listened to, and no matter how much our elderly loved ones need assistance, we must remember they need to feel respected as well. Talk to them and share your concerns. Give them the chance to decide what they need and talk about what they need. This will help them express themselves and understand how much you care about their well-being.
2. Understand Their Condition and Needs
To be able to offer the assistance required, you must first understand where the problem is. Observe their behaviour and learn what they’re struggling with in their daily activities and what changes can be best for them. Make a list of the most important things that need your attention. One of the first items on the list is safety; check whether they’re safe at home or if there are things you need to change to ensure their safety. Another critical thing you need to make sure of is whether they’re suffering from any health issues that require that someone be with them all the time. For instance, if they have been diagnosed with dementia or any related disease, you may look into assisted living facilities that offer dementia care for seniors. Some seniors reject any kind of help if they have to leave their homes, creating more serious issues that lead to the deterioration of their health condition. And this is where personal home care can be an option.
3. Make Sure They Have a Great Support System
As people get older, they become more sensitive to some things you may not pay attention to. For example, missing special occasions where the whole family gathers together can probably be because you got busy with work or had things to deal with, but they would take it sometimes as a sign of neglect. They may need to always be surrounded by the people they love without feeling that this is done out of obligation, so make sure that you always call to check on them and tell them what you’re up to. Visit them regularly and make sure other family members do the same. Seeing how much the people love and care about them can have tremendous positive effects on their overall well-being.
4. Don’t Overstress Yourself
Neglecting ourselves makes us unable to help others. Being healthy physically and mentally helps you see things clearly from the other person’s perspective. Being overly stressed pressures both you and your loved ones, besides, it will make communication extremely difficult between you and your parents. You will end up creating problems rather than finding solutions to them.
5.Help Them Stay Active
Encourage your loved seniors to go out and meet their friends and do some physical activity. Being active will definitely improve their physical and mental health and help them avoid becoming lonely and eventually suffering depression as a result. Urge them to sign up for different fun activities that they have always enjoyed.
6.Teach Them How to Use Smart Devices
Technology is a lot of fun, and the elderly will enjoy it just as much as everyone else. As people get older though, they can find learning new technological options overwhelming. Once people get the hang of things, they enjoy every single option they learn. Get your parents the latest smartphone and teach them how to make video calls on various apps. Teach them how to stream movies and TV shows and subscribe to the application they like most. By that, you can make sure they’re constantly entertained at home.
As challenging as it may be to give back at least a little bit to the beautiful people who love us unconditionally, it’s absolutely rewarding. Seeing how happy and healthy our parents are, and how much they’re enjoying a great life is the best thing we can help them achieve. Most importantly, make sure they know how much you love and appreciate them, and helping them will be much easier.
Last Updated on June 26, 2023 by Lucy Clarke
