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Seeing your parents or relatives get older can be a little scary.
After all, there often comes a time when roles you’ve existed within your entire life shift, and you begin to care for those who have always cared for you. This is a lot of responsibility, especially when you’re also dealing with the stress of daily life, work, or raising a family.
However, there are plenty of ways to ensure you’re providing your aging relative with the best care and support possible. Here are six simple tips to get you started!
Do your research.
One of the easiest ways in which you can ensure that you’re able to show up for your aging relatives is by doing your research. For example, by learning about the
common diseases that affect the elderly, you can keep an eye out for symptoms or signs of sickness, meaning they can get medical attention sooner rather than later. The more you understand about aging and the chances this can introduce into our lives, the more support you’ll be able to offer, helping your loved one to age gracefully.
Accompany them to healthcare appointments.
Whether your aging relative is visiting the doctor for a routine checkup or the audiologist for a hearing test, accompanying them can also prove to be beneficial. This is because you’ll have the chance to speak directly with healthcare professionals, meaning you can ask them any questions you may have about your loved ones’ well-being or the things you can be doing to better support them. As many people feel anxious or stressed about visiting the doctor, having you there with them can also be comforting.
Prevent Isolation.
According to a recent study, “approximately 50% of individuals aged over 60 are at risk of social isolation,” especially if they live alone or are widowed. Social isolation can lead to a variety of health issues. For example, those who are isolated are more likely to deal with anxiety, stress, and depression as they feel as though they have nobody to talk to. Various studies have also found that isolated adults are more likely to deal with health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and a weakened immune system.
As a result, you should make a real effort to ensure your loved one does not spend too much time alone. In addition to visiting them regularly, you should encourage them to socialize as much as possible, perhaps by joining local community groups.
Encourage them to stay active.
As we get older, it’s natural for our mobility to decrease a little. However, consistent exercise can help us to stay active for longer, which is why you should encourage your loved one to get moving as much as possible, such as by going for a daily walk.
This is particularly important if your loved one is dealing with some kind of health complication, such as hearing loss, as various studies have linked hearing loss with both inactivity and physical decline. You can find out more about staying active with hearing loss here.
Ensure they follow a healthy diet.
Healthy eating is important at any age. However, a healthy diet can be instrumental in ensuring your loved one is taking good care of both their body and mind. As such, you should encourage them to stick to a healthy diet as much as possible. If they’re adjusting to dietary restrictions (for example, living with diabetes), work with them to incorporate these changes into their diet. For example, you could spend some time in the kitchen trying out new recipes together.
Ask them what they need.
While their physical and mental needs may change as they get older, you must help your loved one maintain as much agency and freedom as possible. After all, this means that they can continue to live their life as normal, which means they’ll remain engaged in their hobbies and pastimes. As such, when it comes to caring for an aging relative, one of the best things to do is simply ask them what they need from you. For example, it could be that they do not currently need comprehensive support but would simply like to see you more often. Alternatively, they may want some help keeping their house clean and tidy as they’re no longer as agile as they once were. Either way, reaching out and asking them what they need allows you to care for them in ways you may not have considered previously.
Love Abundantly
Life is hard enough as we age. Show your parents grace and love as their bodies are changing and declining. I would be grumpy if I wasn’t able to do things that we just every day easy. Remember your parents need your support, kindness, and love even when they are fussy. It’s tough to watch them “grow old”. Let’s face it… it’s hard to see ourselves in the mirror getting older too. Love is the great mediator. Love often, be kind, and enjoy life.
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