Seven Ways to Support Your Loved Ones as They Age

The hardest thing about growing up is watching your parents get older. As the years pass, they become less active, and eventually, they struggle to take care of themselves in the same ways they used to.

As your parents once cared for you when you were young, you want to care for them when they get older. Unfortunately, most parents don’t make it easy.

When you have spent a lifetime taking care of yourself, it can be hard to admit you need help. Not to mention, your parents are used to being your parents, which means they’re the ones with all the answers!

Just because they make it difficult doesn’t mean you should give up. There are effective ways you can support your loved ones as they age, no matter how stubborn they are.

Be Their Biggest Advocate

Before anything else, you should be their biggest advocate. That might mean going to doctor’s appointments with your loved one, or simply having access to their medical records so you can see the medications they are taking and the doctors they are seeing.

If one or more of your parents is being cared for by someone else, it means keeping a close eye on their other caregivers. Unfortunately, a study found that 47% of participants with dementia had been mistreated by their caregivers. Being an advocate for their care means reducing the likelihood that they will be mistreated. It’s also an effective way to show your parents just how much you care.

Encourage Them to Be Active

As we age, it gets more and more difficult to move our bodies. Medical conditions can make moving painful, and muscles can get stiff. It’s a lot easier for seniors to stay in front of the TV all day than it is to move around. That said, they can have protection with a medical alert device, to help keep them safe and active.

However, getting exercise is important! It doesn’t mean you have to encourage your mom or dad to go for a jog around the block either. There are plenty of senior-friendly exercise ideas that are accessible for all ability levels.

A few ideas you can suggest to your loved ones include:

• Chair exercises that include toe and chair stands, as well as leg lifts.
• Bicep curls can make it easier for your loved ones to lift heavy objects, like gallons of milk.
• Swimming is a great way to get exercise while easing joint pain.
• Yoga and stretching can make seniors more flexible.

Get Them Out of the House

It’s easier to sit on the couch in front of the TV, which is bad when it comes to physical exercise, but it can also cause mental health issues. Sitting in the house all the time can cause seniors to become depressed and lonely.

Encourage your loved ones to get out of the house! Invite them to go out to dinner, ask if they would like to go for a walk around the block, and invite them to family outings.

You can also find ways to get them involved in the community. Take them to a senior center or bring them along when you volunteer. They may want to go again in the future!

Help Them Brainstorm New Living Arrangements

For many seniors, moving is the ultimate sign of defeat. Many will stay stubbornly in their homes because there is no greater fear than getting dumped in the nursing home. It’s your job to help them see they have many other options.

There are many housing choices open to seniors with every ability level. You just have to sit down with your loved ones and discuss all of the options that are available today.

A 55+ community is great for seniors who want to remain completely independent, but they no longer want to worry about mowing the lawn or replacing the shingles on the roof. Cohousing is great for the social senior, while assisted living can help them run errands.

Make Their House Safer

If your parents aren’t quite ready to move yet, you aren’t going to force them to pack their bags. If moving isn’t an option, offer to help them make the house safer.

There are many things you can do to make a senior safer in their home. Especially when it comes to a bathroom, you may get tips from Unique Vanities on making it a safer place for your loved ones. Here are some of them:

• Add no-slip stickers to the bathtub and uncarpeted stairs.
• Plug in nightlights in hallways and bathrooms.
• Secure throw rugs or get rid of them altogether.
• Install grab bars next to the toilet and bathtub.
• Consider replacing the tub with a walk-in tub or shower.
• Install a stair lift.

Offer to Help with Things Around the House

Living in a house comes with many responsibilities. Even in a rental, there are things your parents or grandparents may need to do, but due to their age, they find it more difficult.

Offer to help them do some things around the house, like mowing the yard, putting holiday decorations in storage, or cleaning the bathroom. Not only is it a great way to help a loved one, it also gives you a chance to spend time together, which is something they’re sure to appreciate.

Don’t have the time to help your loved one? Or maybe you don’t live close enough to offer consistent help? Consider hiring in-home care services to help with difficult chores.

Attitude is Everything

No matter how you choose to help your parents, your attitude is everything. It can be very difficult for seniors to hear younger loved ones harp on them about their health and well-being.

Remember that mom and dad are still in control of their lives. The less bossy and more understanding and open you are to their needs, wants, and fears, the easier it will be to help them when the time comes.

Helping your loved ones as they age doesn’t mean shoving them in a nursing home as soon as they are old enough. It’s a collaborative effort, that when combined with the tips on this list, will ensure you both enjoy a loving, supportive relationship throughout your lives.