5 Tips to Take Care of Aging Parents

Sometimes, there’s a gradual realization that our parents are aging and need additional help from their children. Other times, a specific event—such as an accident or sudden health change—can transform the role of a child to caregiver. Either way, the transition is never easy. If your parents are newly in need of additional help and care as they age, keep these tips in mind:

1. Expect some denial. It’s hard for anyone to realize how much their mental or physical health has changed. Expect some stubbornness when you initially broach the idea of your parents needing additional help.

2. Don’t expect parents to ask for the help. Sometimes, you’ll need to observe them to realize they need help. Ask diplomatically and delicately if they need your help.

3. Accept that things have changed. This great piece of advice from a Huffington Post article points out the following: “When a parent starts in any way depending upon their child, a world has turned upside down. Be prepared for that radically new paradigm. Old roles may not apply; old methodologies may not apply; old emotions may not apply. Be prepared to work from — and write — a whole new script.

As a family member of ours bluntly put it: “Mom isn’t mom anymore, and the quicker we can accept that, the easier it’ll be.”

4. Seek outside help. Although caregiving options can get expensive, there are numerous resources to help. From business like Secure Aging that can manage and safeguard finances to home care agencies that provide in-home care, you don’t have to go at it alone. Inquire locally about caregiving and other related resources and caregivers at local hospitals, association branches (such as the Alzheimer’s Association), government agencies, and home care businesses.

5. Review finances and paperwork. This is an excellent time to get your parents’ health and financial paperwork in order if it’s not already there. From Medicare and Medicaid to health care proxies and caregiving budgets, you’ll ultimately make life easier for yourself if you know where things stand in the event of their financial or long-term health care needs. The following article from U.S. News and World Report makes some great points about this.

Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Financial Management

At Secure Aging, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.

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