How to Use Your Aging Parents Support?
If you have aging parents, the process of supporting them can often become too much to handle alone. In addition to making sure they have the necessary financial means, it’s important to help them make informed decisions about their physical and mental health, as well as their housing situation. In order to give your parents the best possible care in their golden years, use these tips for supporting your aging parents support without losing your mind in the process.
Organize and Prioritize Aging Parents Support
When it comes to supporting your taking care of aging parent support, organization and prioritization are key. You need to be able to identify what tasks need to be done and when, and then create a system that works for you and your family. This may mean setting up a schedule or dividing up responsibilities among siblings. Whatever you do, make sure you communicate with your loved ones so everyone is on the same page.
Here are some other tips for helping your aging parents without losing your mind:
Pick one or two tasks a day that you know need to be done. Tackle those before doing anything else and then go about your regular day.
Delegate Responsibility
You can’t do it on your own, and you should just not try. As much as possible, delegate responsibility for your parents’ care to other family members, friends, or paid caregivers. This will help prevent burnout and allow you to take a break when you need it. If you have no one else in the area who is willing to take on some of the responsibilities, it may be time to think about moving your aging parents closer to their grandkids.
It can be difficult for children who live in an entirely different city or state from their aging parent(s) because they don’t see them as often. The same goes for grandchildren – spending more time with them would be great but if there are distance issues that’s not always possible.
Have a Foundation in Place Before Needing to Act
Before your parents even need assistance, it’s important to have a foundation in place. This means having a relationship with a trusted family doctor, being familiar with their medical history and medications, and knowing their end-of-life preferences. It also means staying up-to-date on their finances and having a power of attorney in place. By taking these proactive steps, you’ll be in a much better position to support your aging parents when the time comes.
It’s also important that you remain close with your parents so that, if something were to happen, you’d be in a good position to help.
Know Where to Get Help
When your parents start aging parents support, it can be difficult to know how to best support them. You may feel like you need to do everything yourself, but that’s not realistic and will only lead to burnout. There are plenty of resources available to help you care for your aging parents.
Here are some of top choice:
- The American Society on Aging – ASOA provides tools, services and resources for families caring for aging parents.
- The United States Administration on Aging – USA Gov provides information and assistance on what you can do to provide care for your parents.
Don’t Forget About Yourself
It’s easy to get so wrapped up in caring for your aging parents that you forget about your own needs. But if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of them. Make sure to schedule time for yourself – even if it’s just an hour a week to read or take a walk. Remember to keep in contact with loved ones and family. They can provide much-needed support and respite.
You’re Not Alone: If you need help, there are a number of resources out there. You can contact your local Area Agency on aging parents support and ask for an Assessment of Needs.
