No matter their age, you should be able to provide some ways to give your aging parents the quality of life they deserve at any age so that advice can help serve you properly.
Growing old gracefully is all we really expect when we hit those twilight years. Hopefully, by that point, all of your goals have been accomplished and you’ve been able to look back with pride on what you’ve accomplished. This might sound like your life just yet, but it could be exactly what is happening with your aging parents.
Caring for your parents as they grow older is also a noble cause, so it’s good to make sure that that care continues in their later years. The quality of their life shouldn’t have to diminish just because they aren’t able to do the same things as they used to, so it could be up to you to help provide them with the good life they still deserve. Here are some ways to still give your parents that quality of life into their later years.
Find them a good care home
The first thing that may be useful to know is that easing your parents into a care home isn’t a bad choice. It’s not about getting your parents out of your life, it’s about giving them the ability to live around seniors of the same age and staff that can care for them 24/7. Moreover, this aged care facility in Logan provides a good view into the way that care homes aren’t a bad choice, why it could be necessary, and why they provide a better quality of life. If you aren’t available all the time, you can’t be 100% safe knowing your parents may need help someday, but if they live in a good care home, they can feel good knowing they’re with like-minded peers and trained professionals.
Make their home more senior friendly
If you can’t afford a care home or feel like you want to keep your family close together in a more traditional manner, the solution is often to make their home/your home more senior-friendly. Slip-proof bathtubs, railings, on-suite on the main floor, or chair lifts are all possible ways that your home or their home can be a safe environment to live in that is familiar to them. Keeping them close to the family is a great way for them to still have their independence but making sure it’s safe as well.
Get them involved with the right community
This is one of the reasons why care homes are so vital, they provide a good balance of independence and a strong community for seniors to thrive in. You probably don’t want to do the same things as your senior parents, but they need to have peers who do. Getting them involved in programs, groups or clubs will allow them to shake off any feelings of day-to-day loneliness but give them something constructive and healthy to do instead. Community is important outside of the immediate family and your aging parents need friends too.
Visit them more frequently
A major concern for aging parents is that they aren’t being called or visited as often anymore. This is a major issue and it’s actually one of the problems that people who put their parents in care homes partake in. You can’t just forget about your senior parents or loved ones, even if it isn’t as convenient to care for them 24/7 anymore, but the least you can do is visit them more. Go over, bring the family, play games, talk, and keep them company so they know they’re still loved and looked after. It’s not hard to do and goes a long way in making them happy.
Get them active
Senior citizens aren’t as mobile as they once were. As you get older, your joints start to stiffen up, muscles get weaker, and it’s harder and harder to be active. The solution for your parents is to make sure you’re getting them out of the house enough, getting them some sunlight, and encouraging some minor exercise. A small walk every day or a couple of days, some simple stretches and movements can help as well, it’s not much but it’s necessary to keep their bodies active so they can feel good physically, not just mentally.
Growing old is no excuse for not living your best life, and while you might still have years to go before you can officially call yourself a senior citizen, it might not be the case for your parents. No matter their age, you should be able to provide some ways to give your aging parents the quality of life they deserve at any age so that advice can help serve you properly.
Main photo by Noelle Otto from Pexels
