 Your parents may reach old age in a variety of ways. Sickness
or trauma can result in a rapid onset of old age or they
may go through a gradual decline, their world slowly winding
down due to their physical limitations. Mentally they may
not change much, but externally they are being forced to
make difficult and frustrating adjustments to the way they
conduct their daily lives. While seniors in active old
age have the freedom to come and go along with the energy
and vitality to enjoy life, old age brings with it limitations
that only increase as time goes by. This is not an easy
time for old people and not an easy time for their children
either. There are times when your parent will exasperate
you and you will undoubtebly wish them to be as they once
were. However this is a time for patience and understanding.
The skill required is to be able to help someone in such
a way as they don't feel helpless. A once strong and independent
parent will not find it easy to admit the they now require
assitance. Feeling sorry for an elderly person can also
bring difficulties to the relationship as they will probably
not be looking for sympathy.
Typically you will find that your relationship with your
parents in old age will become functional and practical.
You will be more likely to be doing things for them rather
than with them. This is not to say that a once close and
loving relationship will begin to wane. It simply means
that your parents will increasingly require assistance
to attend to things the once managed themselves.
There are some considerations that will determine how
much you will be needed by your elderly parents.
Where are they living
If they choose to continue to live in their own home there
will be a number of things that must be attended to. From
home safety to medication storage and administration the
list of things to do is large. If your parents are to live
in a hostel, retirement village or some other form of assisted
living the checklist can be greatly abbreviated as these
facilities are usually designed around the needs of older
people.
Click here for
our Around the Home Eldercare Checklist
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