Aging Parents: How To Balance Safety And Independence
When you have an aging parent who is experiencing some health problems, you might start to consider nursing homes and other care options. However, there are many ways to keep your parent in their own living space when round-the-clock care isn't needed. Here are some tips for managing an aging relative's independence and health.
Let the Parent Lead
Given time to process their health conditions, many aging parents will naturally seek out additional help with their daily lives. Unless there is a pressing safety concern, it's a good idea to let the elderly loved one lead discussions about getting outside help. This way, they'll feel more in control of their life and health.
Tend to Health Needs
It's quite possible to get high quality medical treatments from home. Trained in-home nurses can take vital health signs, administer medications, and monitor the progression of many illnesses. Another important step for monitoring health is to have the right home equipment. At the least, install an alarm system that the parent can trigger in case of a medical emergency. This way, the parent can remain safe while tending to their own needs.
Add Services as Needed
In many cases, the transition from fully self-managed care to full-time care has several progressive steps. As the loved one begins to need additional care, such as help with dressing or feeding, a nurse or home care aide can provide these services. These care providers will often help keep an eye on your parent and suggest some solutions for the activities that they are having trouble with, while allowing them continue with the activities they can handle independently.
Consider Assisted Living
When the time is right, a move to assisted living apartments like Colonial Residence can be a great option for placing parents near the help they need. Assisted living apartments allow your loved one to live alone, while gaining access to services they need such as health care and meal preparation.
The benefit of an assisted living facility is that it provides social, mental, and physical care without being obtrusive to the person's lifestyle. Assisted living facilities also have geriatric nurses on hand who are trained to look for signs of age-related illnesses and to help prevent them. And, should your parent need progressively more care, the medical staff will be on hand to monitor their health conditions and suggest any changes that need to be made.
As you can see, there are several options for providing additional support to an aging parent without sending them to a full-time care facility. By striking a balance between care and independence, you can help keep your loved one engaged and safe in their lifestyle.
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