As your parents age, it is important to stay on top of their physical and mental fitness. With age, not only do they become weak, but their body parts also stop working properly. Their immune system becomes weaker, to the point that even a light spell of a disease can prove to be dangerous for them. They become extremely sensitive. All these changes mean that the caretakers of the elderly should be very careful in taking care of them. Parents on reaching the older age depend both financially and physically on their children or caretakers. Therefore if you have aging parents then following six smart tips can help you in taking care of them more efficiently.
1. Talk to Them
Everyone has different types of problems during different phases of their lives, and only the people of similar age can realize them. In current times when everyone is busy in their own lives, it has become difficult for them to give time to their family members as well. One of the utmost need of our aging parents is our time. You should set a timetable and should give some of your time to your parents daily. By talking to them, you not only get to know their problems and difficulties, but this also helps them in building their confidence.
2. Diet Plan
Many dishes are not good for your elderly parents. They should be very careful in their diet. A proper diet plan can help you in this regard. You should add more fruits and vegetables in their meal as they are rich in proteins, minerals, and calcium which are good for bones and physical fitness. You should avoid giving them meat specifically red meat as it is difficult to digest.
3. Medical Care
The aging parents are much likely to get any disease. Their immune system becomes weak. Therefore it becomes your responsibility to make sure that your parent has someone around all the time and if nobody is around, then he should be well aware of calling a specific person in the emergency situation.
4. Physical Fitness
The elderly parents become less active on reaching old age. They avoid doing any physical activity. They believe that their weak bones can make them fell and can cause trouble for them. You should encourage them to be more active. It will not only help them in staying fit, but science has proved that regular exercise increases the lifespan of a person.
5. Professional Caretakers
There are many circumstances when you cannot give proper time to your parents, in such situation, you must hire a professional and experienced caregiver. He knows how to handle the elderly in different situations. The government gives attendance allowance to the people who help those above the age of 65 and are physically or mentally disturbed or disable.
6. Proper Schedule
Aging parents forget things quickly. In such situation, you can help them by making a proper schedule. Following the timetable can make their life much more comfortable.
This article was written by Chris Palmer, who regularly shares advice on elderly care. In particular dementia and supporting your elderly parent. You can find more by Chris on AgeSpace.org.
