Caregiving for your ageing parents can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if they are ridden with health and mobility issues.
Hence, knowing what they need, studying the available options, and deciding on specific solutions, such as investing in a personal mobility aid (PMA), is vital to creating a practical and realistic ageing care plan that ensures they feel supported and safe.
In this post, we will dive into how you can do so in five effective steps.
1. Assess your parents’ needs
One reason why caregiving for an ageing loved one can be overwhelming is because most people do not know what they need to do exactly. Hence, it is crucial to take a step back, focusing on assessing how much additional help they need in their daily lives.
Here are eight fundamental considerations to look out for:
- Cognitive health
- Medical needs
- Mobility aids
- Social interaction
- Home safety
- Family support
- Personal hygiene
- Meal preparation
Looking out for these considerations will help you to identify where they will need support the most, allowing you to create an effective ageing care plan for your loved ones.
2. Consider your own needs and abilities
It is vital not to neglect your own needs while caring for your ageing loved ones. Doing so may result in burnout due to the feeling of a lack of support. Hence, you need to understand where your limitations are and consider your capabilities, resources, and needs by reflecting on these questions:
- Does your relationship with your loved ones allow you to spend time with them without causing any negative emotions?
- Do you live near your parents and can drop by to provide support as and when you can?
- Does your personality hinder or enable you to provide the care they need?
- Are you physically fit and healthy to care for your loved ones?
Everybody wants their parents to be healthy and safe. It is never selfish nor heartless to consider that you might not be the best person to care for them. Instead, you are showing that you care for them by ensuring that the best arrangements are made so that they receive the support and care they really need.
Making a thorough assessment as early as possible helps you prevent further situations where it becomes unsustainable. Always remember: You cannot help your parents if you are burnt out mentally or physically, especially when you take on more than you can handle.
3. Include your ageing loved ones in the process
Everybody wants to be independent and not have to rely on others for care and support. Hence, it is vital that you involve your parents in the planning process so that they view you as a partner who is helping to make some adjustments in their lives rather than enforcing changes that they might not be on board with.
This step is vital, especially if you are deciding between in-home care or assisted living. Since most elderlies might be resistant initially, it is advisable to start small, slowly implementing more adjustments whenever necessary.
4. Address home safety basics
Hazards can pile up over time, resulting in an increased risk of tripping and falling. Taking note of such hazards and eliminating them will go a long way in ensuring that they can maintain independence and are kept safe for as long as possible.
Here are some quick fixes and installations that you can start with:
- Installing grab bars and anti-slip mats in the bathroom
- Relocating appliances for easier access
- Clearing all clutters
- Ensure light switches can be found and reached easily and that every spot in the house is well-lit.
- Remove carpets or rugs that might result in tripping
5. Ensure communication is accessible and easy
Always ensure that communication channels to and from your parents are clear, easy, and accessible. Not only is it useful in the case of an emergency, but it also creates an opportunity for every family member to keep in touch with one another, preventing feelings of isolation, which can lead to the development of poor mental and physical health.
Conclusion
By considering the five steps above, you will be able to create an effective ageing care plan for your ageing parents so that they can enjoy their golden years feeling safe and supported.
If you are looking for PMAs and any other eldercare products, then look no further than Falcon Mobility. We offer a wide range of walking aids, rollators, motorised wheelchairs, and mobility scooters for elderlies.
Apart from them, we also offer bathroom safety and lifestyle products that help keep them safe at home. Contact us today to find out more about our products and services!