Tips For Those Caring For Their Aging Parent
Living independently is something we all want to be able to do throughout our adulthood, but it isn't always easy or feasible. Sometimes tasks need to be taken care of by someone else and often our children are the ones who handle many of our care needs. While they- children want to help, it can put some burden on their own daily lives. There are ways to make living independently easier that can reduce a child's need to become a full-time caregiver. Here are a few quick suggestions.
First, do what you can to make independent living as easy as possible. Install safety features in the home, such as helpful bars around the bathtub and toilet areas. Replace a high bed with a lower one that is easier to navigate. Remove area rugs as people can easily get their foot caught on an edge and trip. Make sure that there are sturdy rails by stairs and that hallways and pathways are not cluttered and difficult to maneuver around. You can even replace front and back exterior stairs with ramps to make it all safe and more accessible. Also make sure there are night lights in all the rooms and hallways.
Make the kitchen easy to access, as well. Move dishes and pans and other items where they can be grabbed easily and not only on high shelves. An electric can opener, microwave and toaster oven can make cooking quick meals a snap and be sure to keep a good amount of frozen, canned and dry goods around so that a quick meal always is just a few minutes away. See if there is a grocery delivery service in your area that can deliver perishables and place them on the kitchen counters. If not, make a weekly run to the store for milk and fresh fruits and veggies.
It's also wise to have a conversation with your parent about finances. At some point, you also will want to talk about wills, trusts and directives. It's good to know where information is kept in case of emergency, but if your parent seems to need or want some help with paying bills and managing a budget, you need to know the location of all of the pertinent information. If their budget permits, it might be nice to have some in-home care. This might include having someone come in and complete housekeeping chores once each week and perhaps assisting with shopping, grooming and dressing chores.
Selecting the right person for in-home care can be tricky and you definitely want to find someone trustworthy and personable. An agency such as CarePlacement.com screens licensed professionals in your area and can compile a list of potential caregivers for you. You simply fill out a questionnaire detailing the types of services you need, as well as your current budget and they will find you several solid candidates.
During the interview process, bring some questions to ask and be sure to jot down the answers that are given as well as your own general impressions of each person. Ask them about their previous experience and what services they can provide. Ask them about why they decided to become a caregiver, and also ask about what happens if they cannot make it to work on a specific day. Will there be a temporary replacement? Ask for references and if they work for an agency, ask the agency's management team about how their employees are screened and whether there are background checks completed for each caregiver.
First, do what you can to make independent living as easy as possible. Install safety features in the home, such as helpful bars around the bathtub and toilet areas. Replace a high bed with a lower one that is easier to navigate. Remove area rugs as people can easily get their foot caught on an edge and trip. Make sure that there are sturdy rails by stairs and that hallways and pathways are not cluttered and difficult to maneuver around. You can even replace front and back exterior stairs with ramps to make it all safe and more accessible. Also make sure there are night lights in all the rooms and hallways.
Make the kitchen easy to access, as well. Move dishes and pans and other items where they can be grabbed easily and not only on high shelves. An electric can opener, microwave and toaster oven can make cooking quick meals a snap and be sure to keep a good amount of frozen, canned and dry goods around so that a quick meal always is just a few minutes away. See if there is a grocery delivery service in your area that can deliver perishables and place them on the kitchen counters. If not, make a weekly run to the store for milk and fresh fruits and veggies.
It's also wise to have a conversation with your parent about finances. At some point, you also will want to talk about wills, trusts and directives. It's good to know where information is kept in case of emergency, but if your parent seems to need or want some help with paying bills and managing a budget, you need to know the location of all of the pertinent information. If their budget permits, it might be nice to have some in-home care. This might include having someone come in and complete housekeeping chores once each week and perhaps assisting with shopping, grooming and dressing chores.
Selecting the right person for in-home care can be tricky and you definitely want to find someone trustworthy and personable. An agency such as CarePlacement.com screens licensed professionals in your area and can compile a list of potential caregivers for you. You simply fill out a questionnaire detailing the types of services you need, as well as your current budget and they will find you several solid candidates.
During the interview process, bring some questions to ask and be sure to jot down the answers that are given as well as your own general impressions of each person. Ask them about their previous experience and what services they can provide. Ask them about why they decided to become a caregiver, and also ask about what happens if they cannot make it to work on a specific day. Will there be a temporary replacement? Ask for references and if they work for an agency, ask the agency's management team about how their employees are screened and whether there are background checks completed for each caregiver.
About the Author:
Kristana Jenson enjoys reading home health care blogs. For more details regarding assisted living Vista facilities or to discover more about board and care Oceanside services, please go to the Care Placement site today.