About 15% of the US population is comprised of senior citizens. That number is slated to continue rising all the way through to the year 2060.
Given the volume of seniors in the country, the chances are that you know somebody that’s pushing into the twilight years of their life. Those people may even be your parents.
Dealing with aging parents is never easy. Fortunately, though, if you’re proactive, you can set you and your parents up for the best possible life.
Below, we touch on 4 primary things that you can do, which will make dealing with aging parents a better overall experience.
1. Observe Their Lifestyle
Dealing with aging parents starts with observation. Without taking the time to observe your parent’s lifestyle, you won’t be able to offer meaningful suggestions and assistance. If it’s obvious to you that your parents need hearing aids but haven’t prioritized them, have a conversation about the benefits of seeing an audiologist. If they have trouble with the stairs, suggest moving the bedroom to the main floor of the home.
So, without announcing your intentions, make it a point to be around your parents more often. Understand what their daily routine looks like and what struggles they bump into regularly.
This exposure to your parent’s daily reality will help you see which areas of their life require the most attention.
2. Offer Routine Help
After you’ve taken the time to understand where help is and isn’t needed in regard to your parents, offer to lend a hand.
Rather than making your help sporadic, try and schedule time each week where you’ll help your parents out with whatever it is that they need. If you make a routine out of helping your parents, you’ll run into lower chances of them declining your assistance later on down the line.
The goal here is to get that initial “O.K.” and run with it.
3. Push Your Parents to Be Social
One of the best things that your parents can do to improve their quality of life is to have friends. So many seniors make their social circles as small are their immediate family, and that’s just not enough.
If you’re finding that your parents aren’t doing enough to continue expanding their horizons, push them to do so.
Help them sign up for classes, offer to drive them out to the beach and pick them up later, etc.
Anything that you can do that will break up your parent’s routine and put them in situations where they can meet new people is well worth your time and effort.
4. Develop a Long Term Plan
As people get older, they get progressively harder to deal with. This is why it’s so hard for children to have conversations with their parents about going into 24-hour care facilities and making other necessary lifestyle adjustments.
You can set yourself up for smooth transitions by making a plan with your parent now as opposed to throwing one together when things need to happen imminently.
Learn more about estate planning. Pick out a senior care home for the future. Make plans to have your parents move into your guest house at a certain age.
The more things that you can figure out now, the less stress you’ll need to deal with later.
Wrapping up Our Simple Strategies for Dealing with Aging Parents
Dealing with aging parents is a lot easier if you’re proactive. Follow our tips above, communicate effectively, and you’ll help your parents get the most out of their years as a senior citizen.
For more helpful and sometimes downright funny family-oriented advice, check out more content on “When Parents Text” today!
