Top Tips for Looking After Elderly Relatives

 

While growing old is a privilege, it can be hard to see those we love age. This is because it often comes hand in hand with age-related difficulties that make it harder for them to go about their daily lives. Fortunately, there are plenty of tip for looking after elderly relatives and steps that you can take to support them during this time, so that they can live life to the fullest! 

 

Discuss their needs with them. One of the easiest ways to ensure that you are showing up in the right way for your loved one is to have an honest conversation about their needs and limitations. This makes it much easier to determine your next course of action. 

 

For example, if they admit that they’re not quite as agile as they once were, or feel as though they need a little help when looking after themselves, then you could begin to look into services such as  Comforting Home Care by Phoebe. This will allow them to continue to age in place, while also providing them with the comprehensive care and support they need in order to thrive. 

 

Play an active role in their healthcare journey. As mentioned above, the older we get, the more we tend to encounter issues with our health. You can support your loved one during this time by playing an active role in their healthcare journey, such as by sending them regular reminders to take any tablets or medication, and accompanying them to any healthcare appointments that they may have. This helps them stay on top of their health while also providing you with greater peace of mind as you know that you are doing all that you can to support them. 

 

Encourage them to stay as active as they can. Encouraging your loved one to remain as active as possible is also key to ensuring they enjoy their golden years. This is because it can help with everything from bettering their mental health to preventing the development of sickness and other ailments. There are many different ways in which they can achieve this goal, such as by going for a short walk or attending exercise classes designed specifically for seniors, such as water aerobics or chair yoga. 

 

Reach out as often as you can. While you will likely be juggling caring for elderly relatives with other crucial responsibilities, you should make sure that you check in on them as often as you can. This is because elderly individuals are far more likely to deal with loneliness. This can be incredibly debilitating over time, and many studies have found a link between this and the development of issues such as dementia. As such, make sure that you visit your loved one fairly often, or that you give them a call when you are unable to do so. You would be surprised about just how pleased they will be to hear from you, even if you don’t have very much to say.

 

You should also encourage them to expand their social network where possible, letting them know that they are never too old to make friends. Again, senior exercise classes can be useful in this regard, as they allow them to connect with people of a similar age who have shared interests. 

 

Take care of yourself, too. When acting as a carer, it’s easy for your own needs to be put on the backburner. However, by ensuring that your own needs are always met, you are putting yourself in the best possible position when it comes to supporting others. As such, don’t forget to practice self-care during this time. 

 

Another way in which you can achieve this goal is by asking other family members to step up and show their support, too. This means that you can then divide caring duties between multiple people, as opposed to feeling as though you have to do everything yourself. For example, one family member could take them grocery shopping each week, while another focuses on tasks such as accompanying them to any doctors’ or healthcare appointments. 

 

Final thoughts. In short, there are many ways in which you can make sure that your loved one gets the support they need as they get older. In doing so, you’re allowing them to make the most of their “golden years,” while also repaying them for all the love and affection that they have shown you throughout your life. Beyond that, it also provides you with the opportunity to spend quality time with them.