When our parents get older, it can be very difficult to deal with. After all, these are the people that helped us when we were young. These are the people that have supported us and provided for us throughout our lives. It is now time for us to return the favor, and this is something that can be extremely difficult for us to come to terms with, and our parents too. However, it is important to take a deep breath and think about the different ways you can help your parents.
Help them to keep on top of their medication
Does your parent take a lot of medication? If so, you may be a bit worried that they forget to take certain pills. You should ask your local pharmacy to help you with this. If your parent has hearing troubles, you may want to learn more about the different ways that you can help them with the most recent advancements in audiology.
Empathize with your parents
It is important to put yourself in your parents’ shoes. Yes, there are going to be times whereby you could be taken aback by the way your parents act, whether it is their neediness, moody behavior, or their frustration. They may simply be downright unpleasant to be around. However, you need to acknowledge that getting old is a series of losses.
A loss of independence, mobility, friends, health and energy, and loss of employment. This can be extremely difficult to come to terms with, as you feel like you are losing a grip on everything, and that is why people can often act out. Therefore, it is vital to emphasize with your parents.
Help your parents to downsize without being bossy
Another thing that you can do for your parents is help them to downsize. Of course, this will not be relevant to everyone reading this but there are a lot of older people that have houses that are way too big for them. You may want to encourage your parents to move into a smaller property that is easier for them to get around, like a bungalow. Moreover, you can help them to downsize in terms of all of the belongings they have.
Encourage your parents to be active
The final piece of the puzzle is to encourage your parents to be active. A lot of aging parents feel isolated. This is because they have vision loss or hearing loss, they get tired easily, they stop driving, and so on. Wellness can take the back seat, but it is important that you encourage your parents to be active and care about their well-being.
Talk to your friends about the synagogue or church members, senior groups, or friends. You should also find out about community centers, nearby universities, museums, libraries, and parks in the nearby area that provide organized activities.
As you can see, there are a number of different things that you can do to help your aging parents.