3 Ways to Make Life Easier for Your Aging Parent

Aging can be a tough reality to live with, as it presents unique challenges for families. Age-related conditions can impact parents’ ability to do basic tasks for themselves, as well as affect relationships and play a role in a parent’s overall health. The burden of aging can’t be removed, but some changes can alleviate a few of the challenges your parents face.

Whether you live near or far away from your parents, there are steps you can take to make their lives a little easier.

Make the Home Safer

As your parents age, they may find themselves having increased difficulties around the home. Simple elements in the home may eventually become challenging. For instance, a sunken living room might have been appealing when they bought the home, but it has now turned into a struggle and a fall hazard.

Consider taking a walk with your parent around the home and identify struggles they may be having. Make a list and determine which things you can feasibly improve. This could be as simple as moving or rearranging objects, or a more complex construction project.

Here are some simple steps to take to improve home safety:

• Rearrange cabinets or install lower level shelves to help them reach objects easier.
• Check light fixtures and replace nonworking bulbs. Add lamps to illuminate dark areas.
• Rearrange furniture or other obstructions that may block key areas of travel.
• Add non-slip rugs or mats to cover slick floors and increase traction.
• Install grab bars near the tub/shower and toilet.

More complex options may include:

• Install a walk-in tub or curbless shower to reduce fall risk while bathing.
• Cover steps with ramps, where possible.
• Install a chair-lift system for travel up staircases.

Reducing fall hazards makes the home safer and ultimately allows your parent to live a better life.

Stay Connected

Ask your parent what’s the one thing they want most from you, and they’ll likely say they want to talk to or spend time with you. Nearly half of all seniors say they’re lonely, and the effects of loneliness are considered as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Loneliness and isolation can have devastating effects on a senior’s overall health, and it’s still a reality for many of them.

Whether or not they admit it, your parent needs you. It’s not possible for everyone to spend regular time with their parents, whether it’s due to living far away or having schedule conflicts. However, various technological advances enable you to stay connected with your parent. Here are a few:

• Text messaging for direct, personal communication that still has a special sentiment.
• Video calls for more personalized and memorable communication.
• Mobile apps to monitor medications or vital signs and keep up with a parent’s health.

Although there is no replacement for spending time with your parent in person, using these means of connection allows you to check in with your parent and reduce loneliness they may be feeling. As a result, their morale and overall wellbeing will benefit.

Paid Services

If you aren’t able to help your parent in person, then hiring help is always an option to make life easier for them. It’s now possible to hire help from services ranging from gardening to meal delivery. Hired help doesn’t mean parents have to give up their independence. Instead, it gives them some support so they can prioritize their energy for other tasks.

Here are a few services you can acquire for your parents:

• Use an at-home food delivery service to ensure your parent is eating and getting proper nutrition.
• Arrange transportation so your parent can travel as needed while reducing the risks from driving on their own.
• Hire a caregiver to help with basic daily tasks.

A medical alert system is another option of a paid service that you can acquire for your parent. Medical alert systems provide users with monitoring and a source of immediate response in the event of emergencies. Whether you select a mobile option or a home coverage system, you’ll find the service to be invaluable due to the peace of mind it enables. Just be sure to find the best medical alert system for your circumstances.

You can’t remove every obstacle in your aging parent’s life, but you can do some things to make life easier. All of the suggestions above provide ways of reducing stress on your parent, which can improve their mood and pave the way to a happier life.