Watching your parents age is a difficult thing to do. A lot of people look up to and find confidence in their parents. They may have raised you on their own and never needed help around the home because they were self-sufficient. But as they get older, they lose strength in their muscles and bones, and the frailty that comes with old age can prevent them from doing certain things. Therefore, support is needed.
However, it’s not always easy for parents to admit when they need help. After all, nobody enjoys being informed that they’re getting old. If you’re struggling to find answers, here are some things to consider as you make important decisions for your folks and the services they may need most.
What Services Do Seniors Need Most?
As our parents age, they will start having trouble with everyday activities such as cooking, housekeeping, and personal care. So what can you expect as they get older? What are the tasks seniors need help with the most? Here are a few of the required services that aging adults often need help with:
Transportation and Mobility
Most seniors experience a decline in mobility, and they get tired more quickly, making it hard for them to go places. On top of that, their vision and reactions will worsen, making things like driving dangerous for them. Fortunately, many types of long-term care services from companies like Karma Care include transportation and daily assistance with mobility when required.
Medical Attention
Seniors may require medical attention for a variety of reasons. Doctor visits and eye care are necessary, but other services, such as physical or mental therapy, should also be maintained. In some situations, a facility or at-home assistant is required for seniors who need assistance with tasks such as taking medications and injections. If you are looking for more information on senior care services, especially for medical attention, follow this link for a comprehensive guide to senior care options.
Nutrition
Malnutrition is more common among the elderly. Difficulties with buying and preparing food can make it harder to meet dietary needs. As an added complication, some medicines and health problems can cause changes in appetite, which can contribute to seniors skipping their meals.
For this reason, food and nutrition assistance is a highly sought-after service among the elderly. Services ranging from in-home chefs to nutritionists can help elders get the necessary nourishment and other needs.
Social Interaction
For many seniors, life can be ruined by a lack of companionship. A person’s emotional and physical well-being can be significantly improved when they have strong connections with other people. Aging adults can experience actual physical symptoms when they are lonely.
If you have a senior parent, it is essential to invest in a service that will allow them to maintain a healthy social life. This could be in the form of a caregiver who simply spends time with the senior or a transportation service that makes it easier for the senior to attend social activities.
Personal Care
When a senior’s physical or mental health declines, so does their personal hygiene too. Simple routines for self-care, like washing up, brushing one’s teeth, changing into clean clothes, and shaving, can become tiring or confusing.
And the only option is to help them. However, sometimes an elderly person would rather get help taking a bath from a trained expert than a family member. It protects their privacy around relatives. If you or a person you know is having difficulty providing personal hygiene care for an aging parent, professional personal care services in Virginia can be a great help.
Final Thoughts
Caring for your parents can be an overwhelming responsibility. Luckily, there are many resources and care options out there, including in-home care. Remember, you can help your aging folks keep their health and freedom for as long as possible by figuring out what they need and finding the best way to get it.
