As there are many challenges associated with caring for an elderly relative, it is hardly surprising that this is a cause of stress for many adults. For example, according to a recent study:

  • 79% of people believe that a ‘lack of knowledge’ will impact the quality of care they are able to offer aging relatives.
  • 61% worry that they will be unable to shoulder the financial burden associated with senior care and support.
  • 69% believe they’ll find it hard to balance these responsibilities alongside their career, childcare, and social life.

Fortunately, planning ahead and understanding how to best support your loved one during this time can eliminate many of the abovementioned concerns. Not only will this give you greater peace of mind, but it also means that they receive the care and support they deserve.

With that in mind, here’s some advice that you may find useful during this time.

Establish a Care Plan Ahead of Time

You should not wait until the last possible minute to establish a care plan with your loved one. After all, this ensures that their wishes are respected as they get older, whether they’re hoping to age in place or move into an aged care facility. Their care plan can cover many bases, from medical care to daily living support – and the more comprehensive your plan, the better. This means that you both have a framework to follow and guide you moving forward.

Don’t Shy Away From Difficult Conversations

Many people avoid having difficult conversations with their loved ones because they do not want to upset them. However, this can lead to many challenges further down the line, especially if health conditons go unchecked as a result of this. For example, if you have noticed that your loved one is showing the signs of a specific health condition, such as dementia, then this is something that you should voice as quickly as possible.

On a similar note, you should also discuss their will and testament with them. This will help ensure that their intentions are honored in the future, even if this is not something that you want to think about right now.

Invest in Medical Alert Systems

If your loved one lives independently, then you need to invest in medical alert systems. For example, wearable medical alerts allow them to reach out for support at the press of a button, which can at times, save their life. For example, many of these tools have built-in fall detection technology, which means that should they take a tumble, someone will reach out to them right away.

Make Changes to Their Home

Another way in which you can support your aging relative is by making changes around their home that allow you to create a safe and comfortable home environment as they get older. For exmaple, this could mean that you install handrails and support guards in different spaces throughout the home, such as the bathroom or entryway, which can lower the chances of them slipping/falling.

Encourage Them to Keep Their Mind Active

Encouraging your loved one to keep their mind ‘active’ could play a key role in their emotional and physical well-being moving forward. There are many ways in which you can help them to stay sharp mentally, such as by encouraging them to read or complete puzzles on a daily basis. Some studies have found that this is also a great way to help them relax, as it can also reduce their blood pressure quite considerably.

Encourage Them to Keep Moving

While it is normal to experience a loss of mobility as we get older, this can have a knock-on effect on your overall health and well-being, especially if it prevents you from participating in social activities or leaving the house. As such, you should encourage your loved one to keep moving as much as they can. Remember, even ten minutes a day of gentle exercise can have a profound impact on their health and well-being moving forward while also boosting their mental health.

Furthermore, local community centers often run free or low-cost programs designed to cater directly to elderly individuals, such as aquafit or chair yoga classes. A quick online search will help you figure out what options you have moving forward. However, this is also something worth spending a bit of money on if necessary.

Talk to Them as Much as You Can

Many elderly people admit to going several days without talking to others, especially if they live alone. This isolation can have a profoundly negative impact on their well-being, which means that it is something that you must take an active stance against moving forward. For example, you should make sure to check in as often as you can, being mindful of the fact that even a few minutes of conversation can be beneficial and will likely make their day. You should encourage other relatives to take a similar approach, coordinating where you can to ensure that they do not have to deal with loneliness or isolation.

On a similar note, you should also make sure that you visit them as much as you can – again, coordinating with other visitors to ensure that their social calendar is as full as possible. While you should use this as an opportunity to spend quality-time with your loved one, you should also help them with household tasks during this time.

Ensure They Follow a Healthy Diet

Following a healthy diet is important at any age, but it is something that seniors struggle with. For example, this could be due to the fact that they are no longer ale to spend the same amount of time preparing food in the kitchen due to a loss of mobility or dexterity. You could combat this by cooking meals on their behalf. While this may seem challenging, simply increase the serving size whenever you prepare meals at home, and freeze the extra portion. You can then ensure that you stock their freezer with meals that they can simply reheat at a convenient time!