Things You Can do to Support Your Aging Parent Who Lives Alone
Life can feel like a rollercoaster sometimes. It has various ups and downs that may be challenging to keep up with at times. Despite all the obstacles, it is essential to remember the people who brought you into this world or raised you – your parents.
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As individuals grow older, many things become more burdensome, such as chewing food, walking, or remembering to take medication. Unfortunately, memory loss is a prevalent issue that worsens with age, potentially leading to dementia. Such illnesses are particularly more strenuous on seniors who live alone and have lost their partners. You might want to take care of them 24/7, but practically cannot if you are busy with work or kids. However, there are some things you can do to help your mother or father and show them you are grateful for all that they have done.
Find a Long-term Solution
If your parent is living alone, there is a chance that you might talk to your siblings or children about alternating days to take care of your parent. However, there will still be certain times when your parent is isolated. If they are unable to walk or remember things, it can be extra tough on them.
To ensure that your parent receives constant care, you can ask them if they would like to move to a retirement home with memory care. Private retirement homes like Sagecare provide support for individuals with help from registered nurses, therapists, and support workers in a home-like environment.
Living in a tight-knit community with high levels of nursing care will enable your parent to get attention while also spending time with others. You can rest assured that your parent is surrounded by people and will not suffer from isolation.
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Make Visits a Priority
Even if your parent lives with other people, they will eventually feel lonely if their loved ones are not around. Although your parent might not get to see you as frequently as possible, it is vital that you collaborate with the care team to implement communication methods where your parent gets to connect with you weekly; such as skype, zoom, facetime, or in person visits. . Make routine visits a priority, especially if they have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Going to a new place and not seeing their family may impact their thinking ability even more.
According to a report, loneliness has multiple health risks, including depression, anxiety, and increased risk of dementia. Therefore, you should attempt to reduce that feeling of loneliness for their mental and physical health.
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Seek Financial Help
Providing care goes beyond emotional responsibility. It may require a substantial amount of financial backing. Although many of the costs from their previous living cost may get transferred to their new living situation, you may require more assistance. If they did not use a wheelchair before because they did not move around much, they might need it now. If your parent needs special care, there will be a cost associated with that too.
Look into benefit programs for seniors and explore your options. There might be programs that help cover medication or housing costs for elderly residents. Saving money now may even enable you to take your parent on vacation in the future or splurge on something that puts a smile on their face.
Nobody can escape old age, but it can be turned into a beautiful experience if treated with care. Help your parents in their wonderful journey of life by providing them with the relief they need.
