Thinking about the responsibilities of caring for an elderly parent can be daunting. You’ll need to ensure they have the right care and support at home, which will involve looking after them most days. It may seem stressful, but with the right preparation, you can reduce stress and manage your care more easily.
1. Plan Your Day
Make a daily schedule for your parent as well as for yourself. It will help you see what needs to be done each day. It will also help you keep better track of their medication schedule and their exercise and eating schedule.
2. Have the Right Equipment
If your parent needs a lot of assistance with daily tasks, you’ll need to ensure you have the right equipment. These might include a lift chair, a walker, or a special bed for their condition. You may also consider a medical alert system if your parent falls and can’t get help.
3. Seek Caregiver Support
As you’re caring for your parent, it’s normal to experience some feelings of stress and frustration. If this happens, you’ll want to seek support for yourself.
It can help you to reduce your stress and deal with your feelings. You may want to talk to a friend or family member about your feelings. You can also use online support networks to share your feelings and learn from others in a similar situation.
4. Talk to the Doctor
Discuss your parent’s care with their doctor. If they’re experiencing a range of health issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes, discuss their prescriptions with the doctor and how you should administer them.
5. Delegate Where Possible
It’s important to remember that you don’t have to do everything by yourself. Look for family members who want to help or hire a trusted home care provider.
You can also share the tasks with other family members. If you have family members who live close by, ask them to take on daily care, such as helping with meals, medication, or housekeeping. It will help you to reduce your stress.
6. Exercise and Eat Well
Caring for an elderly parent can be stressful, making you feel tired and run down. To reduce your stress levels, make sure you get enough exercise. You can walk with your parent, take a yoga class, or stroll in the neighborhood a few times a week.
Being active will help you to feel less stressed and improve your mood. You may also want to think about eating a healthy diet filled with nutritious foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish and whole grains. It will help you feel more energized and care for your health.
Having an elderly parent can be a rewarding experience, but it comes with a lot of responsibility and stress. By following these tips, you can reduce your stress and manage your parent’s care more easily.
It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to do it alone. You can seek support from friends, family members and online caregiver communities.
