Caring For Aging Parents

It's a scary thing to think about, but it's also something that most of us are going to have to deal with at some point. Whether you already have parents who are aging or you're one of the lucky few who don't, it's worth being prepared for all of the things that come with caring for elderly loved ones. Here are some tips:

Make sure you have a support network.

If you are caring for aging parents, it's important to have a support network. If you don't have one, try to build one. Even if you don't know anyone who can help right now, there are several ways that you can find people to talk with and get advice from as well as find out about services in your area.

Ask friends or family members if they might be able to help out with anything related to caring for your parent(s) such as picking them up from the doctor's office or running errands for them.

Consider joining an online social networking site like Facebook or LinkedIn where others may be able to assist in providing assistance when needed. If there isn't already a group on these sites dedicated specifically towards helping caregivers of aging parents (there probably is), consider starting one!

Ask for help when you need it and allow others to be there for you.

Don't be afraid to ask your family members, professional caregivers or friends in the neighborhood for assistance with your parents' care. Ask them if they would like to make a meal for your parents, visit with them on a regular basis, or assist with some other activity that will keep them busy and engaged during the day. Your willingness to accept help from others can relieve you of some of your stress about caring for an elderly parent, but only if you are willing to let go of responsibilities and allow others into their lives.

Maintain a healthy relationship with your parents, and keep them involved in life as much as possible.

It is important to maintain a healthy relationship with your parents, and keep them involved in life as much as possible. This can be done by learning what challenges they have and what makes them happy. It is also useful to know what their wishes are before big decisions have to be made, because their quality of life will be greatly affected by it.

Aging parents may feel isolated or alone if they do not have anyone who can help them out on a regular basis. It is important to keep in touch with your aging parent and make sure that they are included in group activities such as dinners at restaurants or going on vacation together.

Set aside your expectations of how things should be and accept how they are.

One of the most important things you can do for your parents is to set aside your expectations of how this should be and accept how it is.

Acceptance is a process, not a one-time thing, and it’s not the same as agreement or resignation. It doesn’t mean that you like something or approve of it; rather, acceptance means facing reality and seeing things as they are (and acknowledging that sometimes things are harder than we want them to be). Acceptance isn’t about finding a way out of unpleasant situations; it requires being willing to stay put in those situations until they change or go away.

Preserve the relationship between siblings by being clear about your role and setting boundaries for your involvement.

You can do this by setting boundaries for your involvement. Your parents may not want you to take on the role of caregiver, but if they do, be clear about what you will and won't do. If there are other siblings involved, make sure everyone is on the same page with their roles and responsibilities so that no one feels as though they are being taken advantage of or left out.

If your parents have a lot of children, talk about how big or small your individual roles will be based on who lives closest to them and who has more time available to spend with them. If you are the oldest child, consider yourself first in line to be their main caregiver (although not necessarily only).

Care for yourself so you can care for others.

Don't neglect yourself. As a caregiver, you may feel that you have no time to take care of yourself. But taking care of yourself is necessary so that you can continue to provide the best care for your parent.

Make sure you get enough sleep, eat well and exercise regularly, have time for friends/family/fun and make sure you have a support network in place so that other people know what's going on with your parents and how they're doing—this will help keep them from worrying about their own health as well (and vice versa).

If possible, take some time out for yourself each day so that when things get tough with mom or dad you'll be able to handle it better because of having had some "me" time earlier in the day instead of letting it build up until there isn't anything left inside but exhaustion.

Maintain open lines of communication with your parents' doctors to make sure everyone's on the same page.

When it comes to treating your parents' health issues, there's nothing more important than open lines of communication between them and their doctors. You can help by being organized and keeping track of important information.

Encourage your parents to keep a notebook where they write down any questions or concerns they have about their treatment. This is particularly important if one of them has memory loss—they may not remember everything that was discussed in a doctor's appointment, so writing things down ensures that both parties have access to the same information at all times. It also helps ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes for treatment plans going forward.

Your parent will appreciate you asking them about appointments as well as other health-related questions so that you know what’s going on from their perspective and can make sure they’re getting the best care possible—and you should do this even if there aren’t any major issues at hand.

As you go through this process, remember that there is no right way. Every family will have its own unique set of circumstances and challenges. Just remember to be patient, keep the lines of communication open, and accept that not everything will be perfect. Caring for aging parents is a challenging but rewarding part of life, so don't give up!