A guide from Stairlift Advisor

Are you faced with the prospect of caring for your aging parents at home? Are you worried about coping with this new lifestyle change for them, and for you? You can be certain that you are not alone in feeling somewhat overwhelmed or inadequate in handling what lies ahead. For, with the baby boomers’ generation now entering or well within retirement years, the senior population is rapidly growing, greatly increasing the need for assisted living, and especially for home health care for seniors.

The basic steps to successful care of aging parents in the home include researching relevant resources; maintaining constant, direct communications with siblings; making all necessary modifications to the home for your parents’ safety; and always keeping your mind, eyes and ears open to understand all that your senior parents are saying to you—both verbally and silently.

Establish and Maintain Good and Constant Communications with Any and All Siblings

If you are an only child, then you will want to share information with your spouse, close friends, acquaintances or support groups who are also dealing with aging parents. However, if you do have brothers and sisters, it is extremely important to keep in close contact with them on a regular basis so you can share information and ideas concerning your parents’ care and wellbeing. You will benefit from their moral support and input, and they will feel much closer to you and to your parents’ health status and daily routine.

This will help you stay closer as a family unit while you all contribute to the daily lives of your parents. Also, when important decisions must be made, the thoughts and wishes of all siblings will be considered. Whenever possible, plan family gatherings and celebrations in the home so the whole family can enjoy being together again. These get-togethers are especially helpful in maintaining your parents’ feelings of closeness and love for all of their children.

Make All Necessary Home Modifications to Assure Your Parents’ Safety

Most homes need some basic modifications to assure senior parents’ safety. One of the most important items is installing ramps over steps leading to and from home entranceways. For safely accessing different levels inside the home, there are various stairlifts for straight stairs. You can choose the lift’s chair style to best suit your parents’ present physical status. Also, if your home is constructed with closets “stacked,” or located directly above one another on each higher floor, you may want to install a residential elevator designed specifically for people with limited mobility.

To enable your elderly parents to move about their home as freely and easily as possible, you will want to place safety handrails in each bedroom, bathroom, and along the walls of all hallways. Rearrange furniture so there are multiple open areas for use of canes, walkers and wheelchairs when needed. Bathrooms should be equipped with walk-in tub showers and safety bathing and toileting grab bars. In addition, the kitchen may need lowered counter and cabinet access, as well as lower placed light switches and appliance switches. In general, any type of home revision that will make the life or your aging parents simpler and more enjoyable can be of great benefit.

Keep An Open Mind and Heart and Maintain a Strong Sense of Independence

Most of all, you’ll want to keep your mind, heart, eyes and ears open to even the subtlest hint of communication from your elderly parents. What they don’t tell you in words may be reflected in their eyes, gestures and facial expressions. And both you and your parents need to keep a strong, healthy sense of independence in your daily lives together. Your parents need continuous support and encouragement to keep using the skills and excelling at the activities they still can accomplish and feel good about. At the same time, you must maintain your own sense of identity and independence, even if it means having an agency home health care aid provide support and care for your parents while you continue to work, either full-time or part-time.

Taking care of your aging parents in the home is truly teamwork—among you, your siblings, perhaps outside home care aids, and your parents. And with ongoing careful attention and much affection, it can be a long-term, winning effort.