When you have senior parents at home or even if they live independently, you need to ensure their health and well-being so that they (and you) can live without stress. As parents grow older, or if you have a super senior grandparent, taking care of their health assumes greater importance.
Seniors often face physical and even cognitive problems. These may include some mobility issues, cognitive and memory issues, physical health problems, and others. Your involvement in their lives will be a testament that you care and are there for your parents in many ways.
Here are 10 tips to help you get going.
- Take an interest in their pastimes and activities
Whether you take an active part in this or simply ask and help as needed, your parents will appreciate it a great deal. If your senior parent has given up on a previous hobby, you can help rekindle his or her interest in it. For instance, if your parent loved music, you can get them the music or music players or even help them download so they are occupied.
If they are into physical activities, you can ensure that they have the right gear as they may not be aware of innovations in the market.
You may also suggest some groups or clubs (there are many online forums as well) so that they can broaden their interests and have a sense of community.
- Ensure they take their medications regularly
Many seniors need to take medications for a host of problems. Aging parents may require medicines for health issues including
- Pain
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Cholesterol
- Thyroid
- Nutritional supplements
- Vitamins
- Asthma or allergies
Even if they are otherwise in good health and only need regular supplements, they should take them correctly and at the right time.
If seniors are taking more than one medication, the scheduling is all the more important. The elderly may mix up medicines, forget a dose, take more than needed, or even forget to refill their prescriptions. Some may even take expired medicines.
Not taking the right dose or at the proper time for diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes can lead to serious consequences.
While you can set reminders on a smartwatch or use an app on a smartphone, many seniors may not be comfortable with new technology.
Paper and pen are ideal for this. You can set up a calendar and mark medicines and timings on it. Place it where it is easily visible (tack it on a board or with a magnet on the refrigerator).
You can also get pill organizers to help keep the medicines in one place. Larger ones come with weekly or monthly storage and either AM/PM or four sections for each day.
- Personal care and hygiene are important
Depending on the kinds of problems senior parents have, they may face issues with bathing, toileting, brushing, and more. Either they may forget or they simply may find it difficult. While many devices can help in different ways, some seniors may require physical help for bathing and showering.
They may also require help in dressing. While you can get them clothes that are easy to get in and out of, they may still need manual help and you or a caregiver may be required to step in.
If they have physical limitations or mobility issues, you have to be all the more careful. Seniors alone in a wet environment are in danger of falling and slipping, leading to serious consequences as studies have shown. A bathing chair or stool can be used to reduce the chances of falls. Seniors may also find it difficult to adjust the heat level of the water and temperature extremes can be dangerous, so you need to monitor this aspect as well.
- Social interaction
Senior parents should not feel lonely and social interactions with friends and family members can go a long way in assuaging feelings of loneliness. They need to be engaged with other people online or offline. This will be of immense help. When they have a daily routine, it helps them stay connected and they are more likely to stay active and healthy longer.
You may want to set aside time to check out old pictures or recordings. You may even want to record their memories so that you have something to share with your children.
As seniors stay connected with others via social interactions, it can also help them to have a sense of purpose and give them something to look forward to. If you can, help set up a daily routine for them such as
- Going for walks
- Going to the garden
- Going to meet friends regularly at coffee shops or cafes
- Going for volunteer work (if physically and mentally possible)
- Meeting or video calling friends, relatives, grand-children
- Enjoying occasional family outings
These will provide an outlet for their social well-being and may help them develop a sense of purpose and give back to the community and others.
- Ensuring that you are communicating with their healthcare professionals
While medical privacy laws are important, it is equally important that you are informed about their health problems, medications, and general well-being. If possible, go with the senior parent to the doctor so that you are aware about their health limitations, and medications, and are better able to take care of them.
This way, you and they can keep on top of their health and be proactive regarding potential medical issues. The doctor will be able to guide you as to how best to take care of a senior parent, particularly if they have any health issues.
- Technological help
Many seniors may find it difficult to deal with technology. They may have smartphones, but may not be conversant with all the features. They may not be able to use apps or even download them. Considering that technological dependence is part and parcel of modern life, your senior should understand how to use it to better his or her health and well-being.
You may want to teach your senior parent to use a :
- Smartphone
- Apps on a smartphone
- A smartwatch connected to the phone can monitor many health issues and set reminders
- Smart television for entertainment
- Social media like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and specific apps such as for shopping or learning
- Zoom Google Meet or WhatsApp for video and audio calls
Once they know how to navigate their way, they will not only stay connected but also have another way to spend their time.
- Help with financial matters
If seniors are not financially savvy, you may need to step in. This is especially important if they have any financial or even legal issues pending. These can affect their mental and physical health.
On your part, you can
- Help sort out bank accounts, insurance premiums, taxes, and other financial matters
- Apply for government benefits, if applicable
- Check about wills and end-of-life decisions (if necessary)
- Consider getting a power of attorney, as and when required
- See if the senior requires any financial support
Make sure you do this in a loving and supportive manner so that your intentions don’t come under a cloud. This is all the more important if you have other siblings who are involved.
- Offer emotional support
Emotional and psychological support is necessary for senior parents so that they don’t feel abandoned or alone.
- You can talk and share stories
- Offer to take him or her shopping, watching sports, to movies, for dining, and the like
- Spend some time playing board games, or online games, or cards, or just discussing the news or happenings
You need to spend some time to show that you care.
- Help with transport
In case your senior parent is not able to drive anymore, and cannot use public transport (if available), you may want to offer to take him or her around, as and when necessary.
While aggregator cabs may be available, your senior may not know how to use the service.
Whether it is taking him or her to the doctor, for errands, for shopping, or just around, you could either offer to help yourself, book a cab, or arrange for friends to pick him up and drop him off.
- Helping in the house
Whether your senior parent lives alone or with a partner, both are likely old. Maintaining a house is not easy and requires a lot of work, even more, if there is a front lawn or yard work.
If you are unable to spend the time to do tasks around the house, you may want to arrange for weekly cleaners to come in to do the same.
In case simple repairs are needed, you can either help with those or arrange for professionals, as and when necessary.
This means that the senior is sure to live in and clean and well-maintained house without the additional stress of having to do the work that he or she is unable to do.
Final thoughts
It’s very simple: your parents took care of you till you were able to be independent. Now it is up to you to make sure that you do your part in taking care of them, without impinging on their independence. It falls on you to ensure that your senior parent is healthy and happy, getting the needed care and support, whether physical, mental, emotional, social, or financial. You can do this in the many ways detailed above.
You want your senior to live long, healthily and happily, don’t you?
A seasoned SEO specialist and a writer for gaming, senior well-being, and ride-on toys. With an analytical mind, sharpened by 14 years of experience as a finance controller. His unique ability to create engaging content is only exceeded by his skill in leveraging SEO strategies, a talent driven by his love for numbers and patterns.
