US News and World Report Health has a great article about caring for elderly parents. They say that there are fifteen ways:
“The first step toward avoiding such baptism by fire is to acknowledge you’ll most likely take on caregiving responsibilities someday. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, the number of “unpaid family caregivers” is set to reach 37 million by 2050, an 85 percent increase from the year 2000. You can help your parents stay happily independent as long as possible if you start those tough conversations now and do some thorough preparation. Here’s a game plan.”
15 Ways to Take Care of Your Elderly Parents:
1-5: Preparing the Home
6-8: Safeguarding Their Health and Safety
9-12: Protecting Their Finances
13-15: Keeping Them Socially Connected
1. Consider hiring a pro
2. Keep track with technology. Helping your parents remain in their home may be realistic but typically requires at least a few adjustments to keep them comfortable and safe.
3. Remove booby traps. The National Association of Home Builders has certified aging-in-place specialists who can consult and make structural changes.
4. Visit frequently. The time together matters, plus you’ll have a better sense of whether they’re safe, mentally sound, and in the best living situation, says Alexis Abramson, author of The Caregiver’s Survival Handbook.
5. Anticipate expenses
6. Work with the pharmacy. “Poor medication management is the No. 1 reason for leaving an independent living situation and going into supervised care,” says Elinor Ginzler, coauthor of Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide.
7. Get help behind the wheel. One of the messiest challenges for adult children and their parents to navigate is the driving question..
8. Draw up the documents.
Related Coverage
- Health Care Empowerment, Career Transitions, Socially Responsible Investing and More in the December AARP Bulletin
- Long-Term Care: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
- It’s Easier to Plan for Long-Term Care if We Face Our Personal Concerns First
For more reporting on this topic, see our Senior Care news hub.