As a child, your parents seemed invincible. They were full of energy. Now that they're older, you hate admitting that you're starting to see their age. Your mom used to race around, but now she walks slowly and carefully. Arthritis affects her ankles and knees, so her mobility is starting to change.
Your dad was always active and seemed ready to take on the world. He had a mild stroke, and it changed him. He doesn't like to leave his home, and he takes many prescription drugs to prevent a second stroke.
Both of your parents are showing signs of aging. You're not ready to admit it, but it's hard to ignore their need for help. It's time to address their plans for aging.
It's Time For a Family Discussion
The first step is to discuss their daily routine with your parents. Talk about their goals. Do they want to stay in their current home, or a smaller home something they've considered? Would they want to remain in their community or move close to other friends and family members if they're downsizing?
Once you know where they'd be, ask about their preferences for care services. Do your parents want their adult children to provide some of their care? Some older adults feel uncomfortable with that and would prefer to have senior care services.
They may want their kids to help with things like money management and prescription refills. But, they prefer caregivers for help with bathing and personal care.
Watch How They Manage With Daily Routines
When you visit, pay attention to the things your parents do well without help. There's no point in arranging care services for these things. If they're more challenging months or years from now, you can change services at that point.
Rate the things they need help with to determine the most difficult tasks and those that are a little easier for them to do. For example, your mom may not be able to step into her bathtub to take a shower. She has to have someone to hold. Your dad cannot cook dinners from scratch, but he can reheat a pre-cooked meal if you leave instructions.
A caregiver's goal is to help out where needed. Once you know what your parents can and cannot do without any help, you can start building a care plan. It's that plan that helps shape the services that are arranged.
It's Never Too Early to Talk to a Specialist
It's time to discuss senior care services. The last thing you'd want to happen is to learn your mom fell while trying to do something she can't do independently anymore. You don't want your dad forgetting to take necessary medications. Call a senior care agency with a list of questions, talk about your mom's needs, and make arrangements for the services that she needs.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING SENIOR CARE IN LOS ALTOS, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY (408) 317-4969.
