Aging in place is a popular option for many seniors. There are many options for aging in place, and it’s important that your loved one knows what their options are. Aging in place means that they’re still able to live independently, but at the same time, they can plan for the future. Your loved one is going to rely on you now more than ever, so here are a few tips for helping your elderly loved one age in place comfortably.
Talk to Them
There will come a point where you will need to talk to your loved one about their living arrangements. Discuss their options with them. They can choose to stay at home, move in with you, or move to an assisted living community. If their wellbeing is a concern, they may find living in a residential home a better option. Ask them what they want and what they need, and where they would feel the most comfortable living. Answer any questions they may have, and acknowledge their concerns and be understanding. This won’t be an easy decision to make, so you should weigh up the pros and cons and make the decision together. If they decide to move somewhere else, you can hire Los Angeles movers to make the transition smoother.
Make Their Home More Accessible
Making your loved one’s home more accessible means retrofitting it. You’ll have to make a few changes and modifications to adapt it for their physical limitations or any other issues they may have. This may mean adding an extra banister or installing a stairlift, replacing old furniture with something more practical, or adding some extra lighting so the house is well lit. These things will make them more comfortable and will make aging in place easier.
Provide Your Loved One with a Support Network
Proving your loved one with the support of family and friends is important, because they will feel comforted by the fact that they will have several people that they can rely on to look out for them. Keeping in constant contact with your loved one lets them know that you care for them, and you should spend plenty of time with them too. Make sure that they have everyone’s contact details, so they can call whenever they want.
Make Sure They Stay Connected
It’s easy for elderly people to feel lonely and isolated, so you need to make sure that they regularly socialise. Make sure they spend time with friends and family, and go to social clubs and do lots of social activities. You should also make sure they get out of the house, because sitting on the couch and watching TV alone isn’t healthy. Days out can be fun, but having a family meal at home is also important. With the current climate and people social distancing, you should make sure your loved one has easy access to a phone so that they can either call you or have a video chat to make plans.
Bring in Additional Support
Your loved one may be happy living at home by themselves, but you may have to make the decision to bring in a carer to provide additional help. It can be difficult caring for a loved one by yourself, especially if you’re working full-time and looking for the best SEO agency to improve your business, so bringing in a carer will free up some of your time. This could mean bringing in a part-time caregiver to be there during the day when you are at work or helping your loved one with a couple of things throughout the day, or having a live-in carer so your loved one has 24-hour care. Your loved one may need the use of senior care services, and this could range from making sure they take their medications, driving them to the supermarket and social clubs, providing housecleaning services, providing personal care, cooking their meals, booking appointments, picking up prescriptions, and money management. If you’re unsure where to begin with finding an appropriate service provider, start locally with search queries like home care Myrtle Beach SC.
With these tips, you’ll have a clearer idea of the things your loved one might need to age in place comfortably. Don’t forget include them in all the decisions that will need to be made and remind them of how much they are loved every day.
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