5 Ways to Help Aging Relatives

For many of us, our mothers, fathers, and grandparents played a major role in shaping who we are today. These influential people are important to us and our children, so it’s only natural to want to care for them as they get older just as they once cared for us.

Some people choose to send their family to a nursing home, where they have round the clock care. That’s a viable option, but it also means they lose a degree of independence.

No matter how old you become, while you’re still able, you want to be your own person. The same is true for your older relatives. If you believe they can care for themselves with some extra help and don’t need round-the-clock attention, there are ways you can give them a boost. Here are just a few things you can do.

5 Ways to Help Aging Relatives

1 – Stairlifts

If your parents or other aging relatives live in a multi-story home, stairs can be tricky to conquer. With a chair lift, if they have trouble with balance, they no longer need to worry!

Stairlifts can be installed on most staircases, assuming it’s wide enough. There are even curved stair lifts for spiral or curved staircases. Strenuous tasks like walking up and down stairs become harder as you get older, so installing one of these in their home will be a huge relief.

2 – Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)

You can’t anticipate every possible incident. However, you can ensure that your loved ones have an easy way of contacting emergency services if something bad does happen.

A PERS is usually a button that contacts 911, or whatever nearby emergency service, and dispatches them to the location of the alert. You can’t always be around, so providing your aging family members with an easy way of getting help is key to their safety. It helps your peace of mind, too.

3 – Contact

Loneliness is one of the leading causes of depression in aging adults. Like any human being, they want contact with other people. This is especially true for their family.

You may not be able to visit in person every day, but something as simple as a phone or video call can do wonders for them. Give them a smartphone or tablet, if they don’t already have one, and teach them how to use it. Staying in touch with them can keep them happy and content.

4 – Delivery Options

Many children of elderly adults do their parents’ shopping. Do so when you can, since you know them better than anyone else would. However, for the times you can’t, consider online grocery delivery.

Many services also offer prescription delivery, for necessary medications.

It’s incredibly easy to place orders online from these services. Most of them give you a wide selection of stores. Get them everything they need at the click of a button.

5 – Remove Hazards

Railings in the shower and bathroom, lower shelves in the kitchen, and extra lighting are all great examples of ways to make the home safer for your relatives. Other things include repairing and removing floor hazards so they are less likely to trip. Improving the home security system won’t hurt, either. Even when you aren’t there, this step alone can do a world of wonder.

RELATED: Easy Home Security Tips

Conclusion

No matter our age, if we are coherent enough, then we crave independence. While nursing homes work for many people, some prefer to stay in a familiar place. You want your aging family members to have the care they deserve. These are just a few things you can do to help while still letting them be independent.