There’s no question that our parents have done a lot for us. Now that they are older, it’s our responsibility to take care of them. How you choose to take care of them is up to you. Continue reading to learn a few ways to look after your aging parents.
Encourage exercise
As much as some of us hate it, we can never escape the need for regular exercise. Even your parents who are getting older need exercise on a regular basis, even if it’s as simple as a daily walk. Some other great exercise ideas include swimming, resistance band workouts, and don’t forget to stretch!
Be available for them
Now, we know your parents can get on your nerves at times, but you still love them, right? Well, show your love by being with them. More often than not, all they really want is to spend time with you. Watch Jeopardy! with them, or whatever their favorite show is. But simply being present with them and helping them with day-to-day tasks can mean the world to them.
Ensure their living situation is safe and healthy
Everyone is different when it comes to this point; some of your parents may be complete neat freaks and have an immaculate home, while others may have given up vacuuming for Lent—twenty years ago. Help your parents clean their home, get any tripping hazards out of the way, and so on. You want to create a comfortable, healthy, and safe environment for them.
Additionally, if they’re still able to drive, help them with some basic car maintenance. Chances are that car hasn’t had an oil change in quite some time. Plus, let’s be honest, even though your parents probably aren’t driving very much anymore, the tires likely need some air or other attention. In fact, having the car sit there isn’t very good for the tires either, since they’re completely stationary, so they might even need new tires. Luckily, you can get affordable, high-quality tires in Florence, SC, and throughout the nation.
Help them learn technology
Unfortunately, you can’t always be there with your parents, and sometimes they want to attempt using “the facetime” or “zoom-zoom.” Give them a basic lesson on how to use modern technology like their computer or phone. They’ll love doing a video chat with you, or their grand kids. Not to mention, it may save you some trips if you can just do a chat with them to help them out instead of driving to them.
Of course, you can’t always be there for them. You’re responsible for things like your career, your own family, a social life, and so on. After a certain point, of course, one of the ways to look after your aging parents is by hiring a caregiver or moving them to an independent living facility. So whether you choose to take care of them yourself, or hire someone to help, remember that you’re still taking care of them.