After years of them caring for you, it might be time to return the favor and start caring for your aging parents. This includes setting up a comfortable space for them to live, making sure their daily needs are met, making sure their daily wants are satisfied, and keeping them healthy and happy.
While that may sound like a lot to manage, it’s completely doable. Especially, if you create a care plan that takes into account both yours’ and your parents’ needs and limitations.
So, to help you better care for your aging parents here are 5 easy tips!
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Create a Budget
When caring for aging parents, the first step is creating a budget- one for yourself and one for your parents. Before you can choose the best caregiving option for you and your parents, you’ll need to figure out how much money you can actually afford to spend. The most important question will be: are you paying or are your parents paying? Where will the money be coming from?
Once you’ve calculated a budget for how much you can afford to spend, the next step is to research which caregiving options align best with your budget.
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Choose a Space
After you’ve got the budget set, you need to answer the next big question: where will you be caring for your aging parents? You can either move your parents into a communal home for the elderly, where they will be monitored and taken care of by staff members. Or, you can keep them at home, where you can watch over them and be sure they get the attention they need. Many parents prefer to stay in the comfort of their own homes, where they feel safe and at ease.
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Plan for the Future
It’s an uncomfortable topic, but it has to be done. It’s extremely important to talk to your aging parents about what they want for themselves and their future, should something unfortunate happen where they can no longer make decisions later on. So that you don’t find yourself having to make hard choices on their behalf without knowing what they would want, talk to your aging parents now.
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Know Your Limits
Taking care of aging parents can be physically and emotionally draining sometimes. That’s why, you have to realistically estimate how much time and effort you can put into caring for them, without damaging your own life.
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Consider Extra Help
If you feel yourself getting worn down, you always have the option to call for some extra help. Look for home care services that offer trained medical attendants and personal care assistants. This way, you get the benefits of having a professional look after your parents, while also keeping your parents comfortably at home.
Plus, having someone else that you can rely on to take care of your parents, can be a real stress reliever when you have medical questions or simply want some time off.