5 Tips to Keep Your Aging Parents in Their Home, Safe & Happy

According to the AARP, “87 percent of adults age 65+ want to stay in their current home and community as they age,” and 71 percent of adults age 50 to 64 feel the same way.

In other words, the vast majority of older adults would like to stay at home as long as they can. There’s a good chance your parents share this sentiment.

If you haven’t already done so, your first order of business is to discuss the matter with your parents, and soon. You can’t make aging at home as comfortable and fulfilling as possible for them without first understanding exactly what they need to do it right.

Once that’s done, consider these five tips for improving your parents’ quality of life in the home they know and love.

1. Visit (or Call) Often

If you live near your parents, be a good kid and check in on them often. A couple times a week is plenty for able-bodied elders; for those who need more care, every day before or after you head to work is ideal. If you don’t live in town, visit as circumstances and funds allow, and replace those frequent check-ins with friendly evening calls.

2. Get a Medical Alert System

Even if you live down the street, you can’t be with your parents every second of every day. Delegate some supervisory responsibility to a medical alert system that immediately contacts authorities when something goes wrong. There are plenty of medical alert systems on the market; this Medical Alert review shows what to expect from top-rated products.

3. Hire a Part-Time Housekeeper or Aide

How do you feel about your mom and dad cleaning the gutters or reorganizing the attic on their own? A response of “eh, not so sure” is a good indication that your parents need some help around the house.

For light housework, hire a part-time housekeeper or aide who shows up as little as a few hours per week or as much as a few hours per day. Look carefully at home care service reviews, as quality varies widely. For bigger projects, find a dependable handyman in your parents’ neighborhood.

4. Look to a Visiting Nurse Service as Health Needs Dictate

Your parents may require regular care long before they’re ready to move into an assisted living facility. A visiting nurse service can help bridge the gap, or provide temporary assistance after an illness or injury.

5. Retrofit the Bathroom

How long has it been since your parents remodeled their master bath? If you don’t know the answer, it’s probably been too long. Far too many elders sustain fall-related injuries on wet bathroom surfaces; sadly, many never recover. Read up on how to remodel a bathroom for better, safer elder access, then set plans that fit your parents’ budget.

Aging in Place, Gracefully

Laypeople call it “keeping Mom and Dad at home.” Caregivers call it “aging in place.” Whatever your preferred nomenclature, you surely understand how important it is to keep your parents healthy, safe, and actualized in home they know and love — even if it’s tougher to get around than before.

If and when the time comes to consider moving your parents into an eldercare facility, you’ll rest easy in the knowledge that you honored their wishes for as long as you could — and that they’re ready to face the next stage of their lives with dignity.

Comments

  1. My parents are stubborn and most definitely part of the percentage that wants to stay in their homes! We had to move them to a guest bedroom on the main floor instead of the master upstairs so they wouldn’t have to go upstairs every day. We also just hired a caregiver to come check on them in at home and that has such peace to my mind knowing they have somewhere there. It’s hard to try to take care of parents when they live across the country, but I know they’re happiest staying in their home for now.

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