Tips For Living With An Elderly Parent Who Needs A Lot Of Help
In regards to the circle of life, it’s one of those things that is unavoidable. You came from the loins of your parents. Your mother birthed you into the world and she and your father raised you and it was from their beliefs about the world that you formed opinions about things. The older you got and the more you grew into yourself, your ideas about the world changed and maybe they’re still similar with your parents beliefs, and maybe they’re completely different.
The point is, your parents took care of your most basic needs until you were able to care for yourself. As your parents age, the roles reverse and it’s your turn to take care them, even to the point of complete role reversal of changing diapers and spoon feeding. Hopefully your parent goes home to be in a better place before they come to this point in life, but if you are in this situation and your elderly parent needs a lot of help, here are some tips:
Get Them Things That Will Ease the Process
As a parent gets older, they might not be able to communicate with you the most basic of needs. Maybe they’re suffering from hearing loss, but you have no idea because they no longer hold out conversation with anybody. In similar regards, perhaps they’re having trouble passing waste from their system, or perhaps the opposite is true and they can’t control themselves. This creates quite the mess for you to have to clean up.
For your ease of mind and also for their ease of life, get your elderly parent something that will ease life processes for them. Whatever that means, try it out, see if it helps, and if it does, your job just got a whole lot easier.
Have Somebody Else Lovingly Take Over the Work Load
Even though your parents birthed you and raised you up from infancy doesn’t mean that you owe them every second of your life once they get old and need your company and assistance. Sometimes the strain of watching a parent age along with dealing your current life responsibilities is too much to handle.
In this case, it might be wise to pass the workload of caring to your parent to somebody else who will be able to do so in a loving, but trained and professional manner. Don’t feel guilty for considering this option, as it is often the better option. Just make sure your loved one is going into a home that fits them and doesn’t bore them or leave them sitting around all day waiting for death.
That sounds scary and dramatic, but if placed in the right place or looked after by the right person, the remainder of their life can be spent in happiness instead of a host of other sad things.
If you do not wish to send them away to a facility, there are options you can think about that could ensure that your parent is taken care of in the best way possible, all while they remain in their loving home. Many caregiving agencies like Care For Family have experienced people at hand who can come to the home and give your parents the attention and companionship they need. Doing the best you can to take care of your parents might not only ease your worries, but also your parents’ worries, allowing them to live the rest of their days in peace.
