More older people than ever before are living in their homes, which means that the duties of running a household and managing bills are their responsibility. As someone gets older, this can become a bit more complicated to manage, as physical and cognitive decline can make it harder to oversee these tasks accurately.
So, if you are in a position where you and other members of your family have to step in to assist in the caring duties of an older relative, but they don’t want to step down from all of them, how can you mitigate this situation successfully? Read on for a quick guide!
Listen To Them!
When a parent or elderly relative needs help with household chores, it is very easy to think that an option such as elderly care at home or completely taking over is what is best for them. In some cases, it can be, but provided that your relative is able and capable of making decisions about their care and what jobs they can do in their home, aim to listen to them and compromise.
Be Realistic About What They Can Do
If your parent is something of a stubborn person (as many older people are!), they may think that they can still do the housework and then go out with their friends without soreness or fatigue. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case, and when it comes to dividing caring duties, make sure that you and they are on the same page about what they can physically manage. Do not belittle them and do not mock them, but make sure that your voice is heard when it comes to deciding what the best jobs are for them in their home.
Expect Bad Days
As people get older, they can rarely constantly do everything that they used to when they were younger. Even if today your elderly parent or relative can mow the lawn, they may not be able to next week, due to an intermittent worsening of their health. Rather than jump to conclusions immediately, try to be prepared for bad days that can and will occur. Also, make sure that they have everything in place should they need to take a few days off from household chores so that their home won’t become dirty.
Talk To Other Family Members
If you are one of many children, it can be worth discussing dividing the care between yourself, your parent or elderly relative and other members of the family. This will help to give you a break and will also get more people involved in overseeing their care, which, in the long term, could provide valuable insights into their health.
Ask For Professional Help (if needed)
It can be incredibly hard for the grown-up children of people who are ageing to balance caring for their parents along with managing their own family, jobs and other life commitments. So, if you’re finding it harder to get to your parent’s or elderly relatives’ home to help them regularly, then it is worth seeking out professional help from home carers. They will provide an assessment to see how much help is required and will tailor the amount of time they spend with your relative based on need and capability, taking the strain off of your shoulders.
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