The Best Ways to Take Care of Neglected Aging Parents

Updated on July 21, 2021

Social isolation among aging parents is common, and it may continue to increase as the population of baby boomers grow. As old adults become physically frail, they are unable to fight back, stand up for bullying, and take care of themselves.

Physical or mental ailments could make them more companions for individuals living with them. They might hear, think, or see as they used to, leaving more openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. This is why it is necessary to take a moment and use the following ways to take good care of neglected aging parents:

  1. Assess their Needs

Caring for aging parents might feel overwhelming since you are unsure what needs should be done. To handle the issue, understand the extent of help your parents require in their daily life.

Put everything down in a notebook so as to keep track of all the needs and determine what services they require. For parents with heart disease or diabetes, you will need to hire a driver for grocery deliveries, running errands, and doctor’s appointments.

  1. Consider Caregiving Services and Family Support

Although it might look like seeking caregiving support takes more effort and time, it is an investment, which will eventually pay off in the future, if not now. Finding home health care Phoenixville requires creative thinking, patience, and effort.

It will be worth it when you reduce stress, take regular breaks, and decrease your workload. Plus, you can get the immediate family involves. Whether it is offering respite care at the times of the year or scheduled days, contributing is important so as to support in-home care providers.

  1. Prioritize Safety

Particularly for your aging parents, caring for them will need an extra precaution. You might need to move some sleeping arrangements around so as to ensure they are in a safe place.

You don’t wish them to live in a place, which is vulnerable to falls. Keeping them primarily on one level is important.

In addition, install grab bars around the shower, set up a night light in a dark place, and get rid of carpet snags or rugs, which can be dangerous.

  1. Create an Everyday Schedule

For aging parents with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, sticking to or creating an everyday schedule is important. Use a schedule that can make your parents’ day more organized to ensure they have good health and mood.

A good schedule may involve keeping mealtimes consistent. Like going to bed and waking up, a consistent mealtime will be important for your parents with serious health conditions.

Plus, well-timed meals will boost their digestion, enable them to take medications regularly, and even prevent low blood sugar levels as well as its negative impacts.

  1. Incorporate Assistive Technology and Devices

There are different options available these days for senior parents at home, ranging from medical alert products and personal assistive gadgets to technology, such as Alexa devices and video cameras.

These items can also be anything that helps in monitoring their movements, reminding them to take medication, and alerting them to grab bars.

  1. Research Thoroughly

The more you get enlightened, the more you will be prepared for the challenges that will come your way. There are a lot of elderly support sites where you can get resources and guides on home care, dementia care, and elderly care.

These websites are also a perfect place to connect with other people and learn more about different support groups within your area. There are many individuals in the same situation as you, and they usually gather to lend an ear and share advice.

Concluding Remarks!

Most aging parents are contented and happy in a home they have always stayed in. When health problems start to take over, it might be time for assisted living, whether in the house of an adult child or senior care community.

For most adults, the caring responsibility for aging parents tends to happen around the same time they retire. However, in-home care of a frail or ill parent might happen anytime in life. This is why it is advised to learn how to handle the caring responsibility.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.