How to Care for Elderly Parents

In some cultures, it is expected that adult children will do their duty by providing long term care for their elderly parents. But it is not always possible to do this in each and every situation. Some children live in another part of the country, or even a different part of the world. So it is not practical to provide this kind of care. Others prefer to find their parents a residential home to move into, where they know they will receive round the clock care. Here are some things to consider if you are faced with caring for your elderly parents.

How to care for elderly parents #1 Ask them to move in with you

This may seem to be the obvious solution, but it is not necessarily the best or easiest decision to make. If you have your own family, how will they feel about your parents moving into their home? They may have enjoyed the odd visit from time to time, but moving them in with your own family is a big step. Everyone should sit down together and work out if this is the right solution for everyone involved.

How to care for elderly parents #2 Arrange for assisted living

Some people choose to hire someone to move in with their parents and care for them on a day to day basis, while others find hourly care more suitable and affordable, to cover their needs. Hourly care might involve performing some light household duties, shopping and preparing meals. It can even include attending to the personal hygiene needs of elderly people, who are no longer able to do this on their own. Elderly people are often grateful for this option, as it means they can stay in their own home and retain a measure of independence.

How to care for elderly parents #3 Residential care

With all the publicity concerning elder abuse and neglect in residential care homes these days, you would be forgiven for hesitating before making this step. It is not an easy decision to make. But it just might be the best option, particularly if your parents have Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's. Caring for one or both parents with these diseases is mentally, emotionally and physically draining. It might be easy at first. But if your parents live on for another 10 years or so, the strain will get to you and make it difficult to provide your parents with the level of high quality care they deserve.

How to care for elderly parents #4 Visit as often as possible

Another option that is open to adult children as they contemplate how to help their parent(s) is by visiting them. If they live clse by, then all the better. But if they live in another part of the country or world, then visits will not be as frequent. When adult children visit, they can assess how well their parents are doing and whether they need additional help.

How to care for elderly parents #5 Provide financial assistance

Parents invest a lot of time, effort and money into raising their children. So now that they are older, elderly parents should not feel bad about asking for some financial assistance if they are struggling to pay their utility bills, medical expenses and personal items. Some adult children will make gifts of money to their parent(s) from time to time. Others provide a regular payment to their parents to help them get by. This is a personal decision. Some elderly parents will not accept money from their adult children, but they will accept groceries from them. If that is the case, then stick with what they feel most comfortable with.

There are many ways that adult children can show that they care for their elderly parents. They can do it in a practical, financial or other way. But whatever they offer to their parents should relate to their own specific needs. You can do this by making sure that you know what it is your parents really require and that you then respect what they tell you. Do not think that old age means they no longer have a right to govern what will happen in their lives. Try to help them maintain as much independence and dignity as possible. You owe it to them.