3 Steps to Take So Your Aging Mom and Dad Can Stay in Their Home

Did you know that 75% of seniors intend to remain in their homes until they die?

That’s a lot!

Does that include your aging family members? Do Mom or Dad fall into that category? If so, do you see it happening? Or are you starting to see “orange flags” waving that make you wonder if they need some help?

Aging is a natural thing and just like the teen years have their own set of challenges, so do the senior years. And just like your parents helped you navigate those teen years and put up with all the “attitude” you are tasked with helping your parents through the senior years and, yes, maybe put up with some “attitude,” too. Open communication and open-minded problem solving can be the keys to making this new chapter happy for everyone.

So, as you see Mom get a little slower and Dad a little forgetful and the conversation is centered on them wanting to remain in the place they call home, there are some steps you can take, or help them take, to make it possible:

1. Focus on Safety. Falls are a big danger for seniors. There are many causes and reasons seniors fall; loss of balance and strength; side effects of prescription medications or vision difficulties. That being said, there are many things that can be done to senior-ize the house.

• Eliminate throw rugs and cords that could be trip hazards.
• Install grip bars in the bathroom next to the toilet and tub.
• Even clutter can be a problem – perhaps a stack of magazines on the floor or socks and shoes on the floor. Paper clutter near the stove or outlets could be fire hazards.

2. Increase Security. Face it, seniors are vulnerable, even in their homes. There are some measures you can take to improve security and discourage anyone who would take advantage of the vulnerability of seniors.

• Install motion detectors that turn on lights if someone or something is loitering around their home.
• Mount dawn to dusk lighting in strategic locations to light walks and hidden spots around the home.
• Keep shrubs and bushes trimmed below the level of windows.
• Set rules to live by; keep all the doors, including screen doors, lock, don’t leave the garage door open, never answer the door to someone you don’t know.

3. Concentrate on Well-being. As important as safety and security are, maintaining a positive and satisfying well-being can be equally as important. The state of mind Mom and Dad keep can improve and lengthen their lives.

• Encourage them to participate in community events, perhaps with friends, in church activities or at the local senior center. Physically getting out can be considered exercise and helps them maintain strength, balance and agility. Picking them up, or arranging transportation means you don’t have to worry about them driving in traffic.
• Help them develop and pursue interests and hobbies, make new friends and continue to learn. Discussion about topics rather than health or gossip keeps minds sharp. Playing games, even watching jeopardy where than “beat those contestants” with their own knowledge exercises the brain.
• Keeping people in touch with others is really important, especially if days are long or lonely. A daily call can make a real difference for a senior, but it is a challenge between their schedule and yours. That’s where Keeping In Touch Solutions can help. Our care callers are real, live people who contact your loved one every day. You know they are safe, they are lifted with a friendly conversation.

Aging can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a burden and you don’t have to struggle through it alone. The Keeping In Touch Solutions experts in elder care are available for complimentary consultations. When you need to talk with someone about your individual situation, schedule a consultation at a time that fits your schedule. We are here to help put the golden into the golden years.

A daily check-in call could be the lifeline, the joy you give someone that makes the biggest difference in their perception of what old age is like.

Contact me at 317-480-1038 today. Let’s make a difference together.

I’m Diana Beam, Founder of Keeping in Touch Solutions. It is my heartfelt desire for every person to live a happy and healthy life in the place they call home, no matter what their age. You can’t put a price on peace of mind for your parents and yourself. It’s priceless . . . and significant.

For that reason, the goal of every Keeping In Touch Solutions program is to provide a caring connection and service that both the elderly and their caregivers can rely on to make living that good life easier.