{"id":4362,"date":"2021-12-20T09:46:55","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T15:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bentonhouse.com\/?p=4362"},"modified":"2024-02-12T10:07:52","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T16:07:52","slug":"caring-for-aging-parents-a-practical-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bentonhouse.com\/blog\/caring-for-aging-parents-a-practical-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring for Aging Parents: A Practical Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"
While caring for aging parents is often a tender and rewarding phase of life, successful caregiving while also attending to your own life can also be challenging to balance.<\/p>\n
We designed this checklist for caring for elderly parents to give you a tangible overview of areas to consider when you\u2019re taking care of your loved one.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at the five most important areas to consider when you\u2019re supporting elderly parents.<\/p>\n
First things first: remember to take care of yourself. While caring for an elderly parent can be a beautiful experience, many caregivers also share with us that the juggling of the multiple responsibilities involved weighs on them, especially over time. It can be a lot to balance, but knowing your limits, establishing boundaries, and asking for help goes a long way to support your own wellbeing as a caregiver.<\/p>\n
Learn our top three tips<\/a> for taking care of yourself as a caregiver.<\/p>\n Most older adults take at least one, and often multiple, medications, whether to manage a serious health condition or improve quality of life as they age. 15% of senior hospitalizations occur from medication errors or adverse drug reactions. We recommend an organized tracking system that works for you and your elderly parent to stay on top of medications and considerably reduce risk.<\/p>\n Download our medication chart templates<\/a> to stay on top of medications.<\/p>\n Improved mental clarity, a healthier immune system, and increased energy are just a few benefits of a well-designed nutrition and wellness program for your aging parent. But from efficient grocery shopping to ensuring they\u2019re eating a variety of healthy foods, a healthy and sustainable nutrition plan for seniors requires a bit of up front planning. And when it comes to physical wellbeing and fitness, it\u2019s important to consider a variety of factors, including whether they\u2019re getting quality sleep and which types of exercises they might enjoy.<\/p>\n Get clarity about where you could use support as a caregiver with our free<\/strong> nutrition and physical needs assessment.<\/a><\/p>\n While seniors often opt to stay in their homes as long as possible, a 2020 study found that fewer than 10% of U.S. homes have enough aging-accessible features<\/a>. This includes things like wheelchair accessibility, first floor bedrooms and bathrooms, and built-in shower seats. When you\u2019re considering senior safety, it\u2019s also important to remember emotional wellbeing. Lower social support or a lack of emotional safety can leave your loved one more susceptible, for example, to senior scams<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get started on an aging-accessible home with this senior friendly bathroom checklist<\/a>.<\/p>\n As your parents age, you may find yourself responsible for care decisions, from adult day care<\/a> or short term stay<\/a> possibilities to end of life wishes. An excellent starting point is meeting as a family to understand any particular desires your aging parent may have, so they can be as much part of conversation as possible.<\/p>\n2 – Medication Worries<\/h2>\n
3 – Nutrition and Wellness<\/h2>\n
4 – Personal and Home Safety<\/h2>\n
5 – Planning Ahead<\/h2>\n