If you have elderly parents, it is very likely that you think that you are not caring for them the way you should be. It would not be surprising, though. After all, it is an incredibly difficult task that can be very time-consuming and mentally taxing.

Fortunately, we are here to help you out! In this article, you will find a list of ways to care for your elderly parents, ranging from hiring a live-in caregiver, cooking meals to cleaning and maintaining the home, shopping and buying necessities, and running errands.

Once you are done reading, you should have a general idea of what you need to do to keep your elderly parents healthy and comfortable.

 

Top 6 Ways To Care for Your Elderly Parents

Hire a Live-in Carer

Many of us leave busy lives with work and family obligations. Though we might want to spend more time with our elderly parents sometimes, we need help. We want our parents to maintain their independence, but we also want peace of mind knowing that they are safe and happy when we are not around. Live in care service is the perfect solution.

Live-in caregivers are trained professionals who understand the needs of seniors and can help with daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, and shopping. They also provide companionship, so your elderly parent doesn’t feel lonely or isolated.

 

Cook Your Parents the Right Meals

 

Elderly people often have special dietary requirements. Therefore, if you want to make sure that your parents have a balanced diet, you should cook them the right meals. This means that you should pay attention to the following things:

 

• Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your menu.
• Cook meals with plenty of fiber, lean protein, and healthy fats.
• Replace processed foods with whole foods as much as possible.
• Avoid adding excessive amounts of salt and sugar when cooking meals.
• Include plenty of spices in your cooking to make meals tastier.
• Go easy on the oil when cooking meals. Try to use olive oil as much as possible.

 

 

Ensure Your Parents Have a Good Night’s Sleep

Elderly people often have trouble sleeping, and this can lead to a number of health problems, including obesity and depression. To ensure that your parents have a good night’s sleep, make sure that you maintain a cool temperature in the home. Also, make sure that your parents get enough exercise during the day.

In addition, try to keep the bedroom as dark as possible at night since bright light prevents the body from producing melatonin. Finally, try to play soothing music in your parent’s bedroom since this can help them sleep better at night.

 

Help Your Parents with Their Hygiene Routine

One of the most important aspects of caring for your elderly parents is helping them do their basic hygiene routine properly. If you live far away from your parents and cannot help them every day, then you should hire a live-in caregiver or enroll them in an adult care program so they can help them out with their hygiene routine whenever necessary.

 Here are some basic tips that will help maintain a good hygiene routine:

 

• Help your parents take a shower every day.
• Help your parents brush their teeth twice a day by using a soft toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste.
• Help your parents wash their hair every week by using baby shampoo.
• Look into purchasing a bath seat, so they don’t slip in the bathtub.
• If they still wear hearing aids, clean them regularly by using cotton swabs and water or hydrogen peroxide if they have an ear infection.
• Get rid of clutter, so it is easier for them to move around the house without tripping over things.

 

Enroll Your Parents in an Adult Day Care Program

Adult daycare programs can benefit both you and your elderly parents since they offer many benefits such as socialization opportunities for the elderly, relief from daily responsibilities for caregivers, and increased independence.

The programs usually also provide transportation services for seniors, which makes it easier for caregivers to get out of the house without worrying about how to get their family members to their appointments on time. In addition, these programs offer wellness services such as physical therapy, mental health services, nutrition services, along with transportation to doctor’s appointments and errands such as picking up prescriptions or going grocery shopping.

 

Handle Your Parents’ Finances

If your parents can still handle their finances on their own, you should let them do so. However, if they have any financial issues, you should talk to a financial advisor or an attorney to develop a solution that will work for everyone involved. It is important to note that if one of your parents has serious memory issues or dementia, then it is best to hire an estate planning attorney to help you take care of all their legal affairs. In addition, if you are an only child, then you should consider becoming your parents’ guardian since this will allow you to take care of them financially and legally.

 

Caring for elderly parents can be a very difficult task. However, we are sure that these tips will help you get the job done, and we wish you the best of luck!

 

Ways To Care for Your Elderly Parents is a feature post  – you might also like my post on how to become a dementia  friend