CARING FOR ELDERLY PARENTS' CHECKLIST

When your parents start showing the signs of age creeping in, you feel as though it’s almost your duty to safeguard their health and happiness. It is hard to draw a line between being too controlling and taking over their lives, versus just wanting to give them the care that they once showed you. It is important to ensure that they still maintain control over decisions, but equally as important that together you take steps to ensure their health, safety and well-being is considered.

To help navigate through these next life stages, we’ve put together a checklist to inspire some conversations.

1. Is their living situation suitable or are some modifications necessary?

Many elderly people want to remain living in their home for as long as possible however, as their needs change it is important to assess if living at home is safe without some modification. Potential changes you might want to consider:

• Don’t use rugs – Check that all carpets are firmly fixed to the floor
• Install grab bars – This is particularly useful in toilets and showers
• Install ramps with handrails – Where necessary, this will ease mobility
• Change handles on doors and faucets – handles that may be more comfortable and easy to use
• Place no-slip strips or non-skid mats on surfaces that might get wet – to reduce the likelihood of a fall
• Assess placement of light switches – place at the top and bottom of the stairs for easy access and turn on night lights

2. Explore available care options

If they are struggling with day-to-day tasks of living at home such as personal care (bathing, getting dressed etc.) and household chores (cleaning, laundry etc.), it may be time to explore some options for assistance. It might be valuable to ask a friend or relative to help if they are able to. Another option is to hire an aid or carer for a certain amount of time each day or on days when someone else cannot be there to help. They may also qualify for Government support services, in home carers etc.

3. Take advantage of home delivery options

Many retailers offer home delivery options, including grocery stores. As you age it’s just as important to eat a balanced diet and meet nutritional needs to maintain day-to-day health. In the same way that receiving groceries via delivery is helpful, it’s also helpful to receive deliveries of products that are may be slightly ‘uncomfortable’ for some to purchase. For some, incontinence products can be scary to buy off a supermarket shelf, resulting in quickly passing by the aisle in the store and shoving it in your trolley. How do you know you even picked up the right product for you?

Veeda Incontinence offers quality, natural incontinence products that can be delivered right to your door in discreet packaging for your comfort. This makes the online buying process efficient, easy, and comfortable for you to use to ensure you’re buying incontinence products that are suitable for you.

Veeda sells incontinence liners, pads as well as disposable underwear and wipes to cover all your incontinence needs. Our products provide comfortable, secure, and reliable protection to support an active, on-the-go leak-proof lifestyle. Unlike other brands, Veeda does not contain harmful chemicals making our products safe for everyday use. Our products are both hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested which means they won’t irritate your skin and reduce the risk of allergies. CLICK HERE to shop and view our range.

4. Implement the use of technology and devices

Elderly people who live alone tend to struggle with remembering what medications to take and when to take them, as there are often more than one. Using devices such as pill boxes gives you or someone else the opportunity to set out what pills are meant to be taken each day to stay on track. Other useful tools include devices such as medic bracelets that allow first responders and health professionals to retrieve your vital health information quickly.

5. Keep them moving and engaged with friends

Many elderly people believe that as they age, physical activity becomes less important. It is worth considering an exercise routine to maintain good mental and physical health. Exercise has many health benefits such as improving muscle mass, maintaining bone strength, bettering cardiorespiratory fitness, improving joint suppleness and controlling weight gain. Social interaction also presents some health benefits and improves one’s quality of life. For the elderly, social activities can potentially reduce the risk of dementia and improve physical health/wellbeing.

6. Consider end of life wishes

Everyone has at least one thing that they want to do, finish or even start before their time is up. It is important to ask your parents about the nitty gritty. Do they have an up-to-date power of attorney? Do they have a will and is it current? Do they have any end of life wishes? What happens to the pets if they need to move?

There are many different steps to help your parents transition into their new lifestyle, with endless questions and ideas to consider what is best for you and your parent. Consider this checklist as a rough guide to help navigate through these next life stages for your loved ones.

Medical Disclaimer: Articles are intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as the basis of patient treatment. Ask a medical professional if you have any health-related questions or concerns.

Additional Resources

A.G. Rhodes. (2016). Older Adults and the Importance of Social Interaction. https://www.agrhodes.org/blog/notable-newsworthy/older-adults-and-the-importance-of-social-interaction/

Berman, C. (2016). What Aging Parents Want From Their Kids.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/03/when-youre-the-aging-parent/472290/

Medic Alert Foundation. (2021). How Medic Alert Works.https://www.medicalert.org/how-our-medical-ids-work

National Institute of Ageing. (2021). Aging in Place: Tips on Making Home Safe and Accessible. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/infographics/aging-place-tips-making-home-safe-and-accessible