Are you having trouble caring for your parents? Seniors with long-term illnesses or disabilities may need a lot of help with their daily activities. You may want to handle their care yourself, but when you’re already juggling a job and children, there just aren’t enough hours in the day and you can become very stressed. Home care providers are one place you can look to for assistance. Here are some of the ways they can help you and your parents.
Keep Your Parents in Their Homes
When seniors can no longer live independently, nursing homes aren’t the only option. If your parents aren’t ready to move to a nursing home, or if they’d like to stay in their home as long as possible, then home care providers can help.
When you use a home care provider, caregivers come to your parents’ home as needed to help with necessary tasks. This assistance makes it possible for your parents to stay in their home, stay close to you, and close to the rest of the family.
Help with Personal Care
Personal care can become difficult or impossible as people age, and if your parents are having trouble looking after themselves, caregivers can help. Caregivers can help your parents safely manage daily activities like getting in and out of the bathtub. Caregivers can also help with daily activities like getting dressed, going to the bathroom, or eating.
With caregivers in the home, you’ll have the peace of mind that your parents are safe and their needs are being looked after.
Housekeeping and Gardening Help
Maintaining a clean house and a nice yard gets harder as people age. Since you have your own home to look after, it’s hard to find the time to clean your parents’ house, too. Home care providers can help with routine household maintenance tasks like cleaning and gardening. This helps keep your parents’ home safe and comfortable.
Light housework can include tasks like vacuuming, sweeping, doing the dishes, or dusting. Caregivers can also help with laundry, including ironing, so that your parents always have clean, presentable clothes to wear.
Outdoors, caregivers can offer help with hobbies like gardening. If your parents always liked to maintain a nice garden but are now having trouble bending over or lifting watering cans, their caregivers can help them continue their hobby.
Help with Pet Care
Pets aren’t just valued members of the family; they’re also good for your mental health. Having pets is linked to a better quality of life and increased longevity, so if your parents have a beloved dog or cat, they should keep it. If your parents are having trouble remembering to feed their pet on a regular schedule or aren’t able to walk it regularly, they may be worried about losing their pet.
Home care services can help with basic pet care tasks. Your parents’ caregivers can remind them to feed their dog or cat, and can assist with tasks like walking. Caregivers can also arrange for transportation to the vet to keep your parents’ pets healthy.
Someone to Talk to
Adjusting to the retiree lifestyle can be difficult for seniors. At work, your parents got the chance to interact with a wide range of people, but now that they’re retired, they’ve lost a lot of their social circle. Home care providers can offer companionship to your parents and give them new people to socialize with.
Caregivers can come over simply to lend an ear and chat. They can also play games like board games, card games, or puzzles to add some more fun to your parents’ lives. Social outings, like going for walks around the neighbourhood, are another way that caregivers can help.
