Taking care of an elderly parent can be a big undertaking. It’s a labor of love, but it’s not an easy thing to do. It’s often stressful as you worry about the health and safety of your loved one and it can be demanding of your time which can be difficult when you have your own family to take care of and a job to juggle. Taking care of an elderly parent requires the help of the whole family. Because of all the obligations, it’s impossible to be there for your loved one as much as you would like to. This leaves your elderly parent alone for more time than you would like.
The Comforts of Home
You can install little things like rocker switches to make it easier to turn lights on and off. The elderly often suffer from arthritis, and this seemingly small change can make a huge difference in their daily life. You can even add extra rocker switches throughout the home as well as placing nightlights in areas such as hallways. This will help to eliminate dark areas at night so that they can see where they are going if they need to go to the washroom at night.
Stairs make it very difficult for the elderly to be mobile, and a chair lift can help an elderly person to keep their mobility as well as their independence. It also reduces the risk of falls. A comfortable bed that is automated makes it easier to get in and out of bed as well. There are even chairs such as the Perfect Sleep Chair that are fully automated and that offer all the modern comforts such as heat and massage.
How to Keep Your Elderly Parent Safe in Their Own Home
Most people would prefer to live in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible and to avoid having to be placed in a home for the elderly. There are a number of ways to modify a home to make it not only more comfortable but also safer for an elderly recipient to live in. You can install a ramp to replace stairs to accommodate a wheelchair or to make it easier to transition from a lower room to a higher one.
Install an alarm system so that if someone does try to break in, it will immediately alert the local authorities. A personal life alert alarm is another important piece of equipment that will give your parent the ability to immediately call for help if they fall or get hurt and need help. These can be worn as a necklace or placed in different areas of the home so that they are accessible. You will also want to make sure that there is a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and that the batteries in the fire alarms are good.
The Importance of Security
You want to make sure that their home will be safe not only for them but will also be able to keep out any danger. You can install locks that automatically lock when they are closed, and you can also have a simple security camera installed so that they can see who is at the door before they open it. Plus, it will deter intruders.
The Importance of Regular Visits
If you have family that lives nearby, you can alternate visits so that you won’t have all the responsibility of caring for your elderly parent. It also ensures that your parent will get plenty of social interaction. Many elderly people who live on their own suffer from depression because they live by themselves. It can be a significant benefit to have a daily visit even if only for a few minutes. If you can’t visit in person, a phone call can go a long way to boosting their spirits.
Keep Your Elderly Parent Safe and Yourself Less Stressed
The idea is to make your elderly parent comfortable, as well as safe, so that they’ll be able to live independently when you’re not able to be there for them. It’ll keep them safe and comfortable, and you can be less stressed because you know that they’ll be fine.
