Getting older is something nobody particularly wants to happen, but it does – and no-one immune from the ageing process. If you’ve got elderly parents, you’ll undoubtedly notice that they’ve had to make some changes in their lives to continue being independent.
While it’s true that some older adults feel physically fit as folks half their age, others may find that their health conspires against them. When you are elderly, the last thing you want to do is feel like you have to depend on your offspring and others for constant support.
With that in mind, if you’ve got elderly parents, there are some things you can do to help them maintain their independence and lead a happy retirement. Here’s what you can do:
1. Offer to do things around the house
One practical way that you can help your elderly parents is by offering some of your spare time to fix certain things in their homes. These can be DIY jobs that you can tackle, but they might not feel confident in doing so for safety reasons.
Examples include painting and decorating, furniture installation, and electrical wiring. Doing such jobs for your parents is a great way to help them live in their homes safely and securely.
2. Organise live-in care
Are one or both of your elderly parents finding it a struggle to do simple things like washing themselves or carry out household tasks and errands? If so, live in care might be the solution that they need.
A live-in carer can help your parents to live at home and lead independent lives, and it’s a more attractive option to being in a care home.
3. Encourage them to take up social activities
Just because you get older doesn’t mean you have to give up having fun or maintaining a social life. The last thing you want to happen is to watch your parents become reclusive and lonely because they don’t feel they can take part in any social activities.
There are a plethora of social activities designed specifically for senior citizens in mind. It’s just a case of talking to your parents about which ones they’d like to participate in the most.
4. Help them organise grocery home deliveries
There’s no denying that the Internet makes it easy to perform various everyday tasks. One of those tasks, of course, is getting food shopping delivered. A trip to the local supermarket can sometimes be a struggle for some older adults.
That’s why, in those cases, it makes sense to use home delivery services for grocery shopping. Virtually all of the well-known supermarket brands offer home deliveries, and during times of crisis such as COVID-19, they prioritise older people.
5. Arrange their transport needs
Last but not least, your parents will undoubtedly want to venture out of the house on occasion. Having a car that best suits their needs is ultimately the ideal option as it gives them the freedom to go out whenever they wish.
Other alternatives include dial-a-ride services, taxis, and also you could provide transport for them where it’s possible to do so.
