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9 Tips to Help Your Older Parents While they are Home Alone
In the advancing years, life poses new challenges. You stay away from loved ones, hoping to find independence in your golden years. However, your beautiful home gets completely silent, either because your children are away or your spouse is no more. Living alone certainly brings on some new challenges.
On one side, you have almost lived half of your life, while on the other hand, your journey is enriched with new experiences that you wish to pass on to the younger generation. That’s why there is a saying, “Old is gold.”
If you are someone who has an older parent and is staying alone, the constant thought of any unforeseen circumstances happening around them always haunts you. We get multiple requests for home care services, especially for older parents or aging couples who live alone.
A study shows that the majority of Americans prefer living alone or with their spouses and ditch the idea of living in an extended family or household. One of the reasons we see this is that they prefer to age in place, gaining a sense of independence and control. They avoid any sort of unwanted social interaction and prefer to retain valuable relationships with loved ones only.
That’s why we provide home care services to seniors in Mesa, AZ so that aging couples can grow older together at their homes without having to look for a senior living facility. This brings a big smile to their faces and joy for the rest of their lives.
Impact of Living Alone in the Advancing Years
Think of your childhood, when all you wanted was to grow up, gain financial independence, and be wherever you wanted to be. These things do come true, but we do not see the challenges that come with gaining financial control and growing older.
It’s tough to live alone, regardless of whether you are unmarried, widowed, or divorced. Consequently, it is better to be prepared and have some insight as to what challenges you may face as you age.
Take a look at the challenges of living alone in the advancing years:
Mental Health
In our young days, all we needed was some me-time. Sometimes, good books or a couple of friends drinking and having soulful talks made our days. However, as we grow older, those meaningful connections slip away as different responsibilities mount on us.
This leads to various mental health conditions like cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, and so much more. As a result, memory slowly fades away. The individual slowly forgets their loved ones who once meant the world to him or her. As they live alone, there is no one to tell them what to do. Even if one lives with their spouse, it gets difficult for both of them to continue living like this. From managing finances to paying bills or insurance, all get tougher.
Physical state
Forget mental health, which seems to be prevalent among youngsters as well; diminishing physical well-being is also a major concern. We have seen that many aging individuals tend to ignore their physical symptoms and often miss their medication dosage.
As a result, the adverse impact of medication puts them under serious threat and gives rise to various cardiovascular risks, including heart diseases, obesity, and weak immunity.
Moreover, homes that could be more senior-friendly (installing grab bars, handrails, and so on) also pose a major threat to older people. Therefore, insufficient lighting poses a high risk for older loved ones who have limited mobility. Similarly, the loss of calcium deposits also results in the weakening of muscles. That’s why older people are prone to falls or accidents.
So, what can you do to help older people living alone?
Living alone has its challenges; however, some ways can help your aging parents feel loved and supported around the clock. Their children or loved ones must be emotionally present with them so they don’t feel left out. Senior isolation is one of the leading causes of depression and cognitive decline. Therefore, ensure that aging loved ones are not alone at home.
Tips to Help Your Older Parents Live Alone at Home
1. Calling every day to make sure they're okay
Staying alone makes older adults more anxious because they keep thinking about their health, their future, and so on. Therefore, children need to understand their emotions and make the right choice by calling their loved ones every day. This makes them feel supported and gives them peace of mind knowing that someone is there for them.
2. Get Companion Care Services to Ensure that They do Not feel Isolated
Older adults are always at a higher risk of feeling isolated and vulnerable because they feel lonely as they grow older. There could be various reasons for them to feel this way; maybe their partner has passed away or they are divorced or single parents or feel lonely. Whatever, the reasons are, there should be someone who understands them and helps them participate in various social events. Therefore, they must get companion care providers who will help them engage socially and make new friends.
3. Visiting every 3–6 months lets them know you're there
Children must visit their homes every 3–6 months to ensure that their parents are doing well. By visiting their homes, they bring peace and comfort and let their parents know that someone is there to guide and support them all the way.
4. Get Home Care Services to Help them with Household Chores
You cannot expect your aging parents to work 24/7 because of their vulnerability to their physical well-being. As a result, they may either fall or be at major risk of other unforeseen accidents. Therefore, they must get home care services to keep their houses clean and get a caregiver so that they don’t feel burdened.
5. Socialize well to Eliminate the Feeling of Senior Isolation
Isolation puts them at risk of various cardiovascular diseases and other mental health problems. Ranging from depression, anxiety, or other social dysfunctions, the parents must socialize and meet new people to boost their brain health. This helps with their mental well-being and lowers the risk of dementia.
6. Have a Conversation about their Needs and Wants to fulfill it
Sometimes, seniors are unable to communicate about their needs. They have difficulty expressing their emotions, and at times they are stubborn. Children need to spend as much time as they can. Start by creating a relaxed space and helping them participate in the decision-making process.
7. Renovate to Make Your House Senior-Friendly
Since seniors are prone to various accidents, many of them start looking for senior living facilities. One of the main causes is that their houses are not senior-friendly. To make your home better for your aging loved ones, start by installing grabrails, bars, and small stairs with sufficient lighting. Having these items installed helps loved ones feel safe and comfortable in their own homes.
8. Review their Daily Activities to Figure Out any Risky Activities
Your aging parents do not have to carry that dirty laundry up and down the stairs. Simply, having a caregiver who will help them with household chores and other activities is enough. As a child, you need to ensure that your aging parents are not involved in any other physically exhausting activities. Instead, ask them if they would be interested in doing some light exercises that retain their physical strength.
9. Make them Beware of Scams
Today, online scamming is quite prevalent everywhere, and older people who have difficulty understanding technology are always at risk of such scams. Children must help their parents be aware of these online scams, like telemarketing, delivery scams, bank frauds, and so on. Making them aware of these scams helps their aging parents to be independent and self-sufficient in the long run.
Bottom Line
Today, online scamming is quite prevalent everywhere, and older people who have difficulty understanding technology are always at risk of such scams. Children must help their parents be aware of these online scams, like telemarketing, delivery scams, bank frauds, and so on. Making them aware of these scams helps their aging parents to be independent and self-sufficient in the long run.
With the help of our team of experienced and qualified experts in international staffing, we will manage your needs from initial contact to the final contract.
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