|
Responsibilities -
living with Older Parents |
Having extra people in the house means extra work - more cleaning, cooking and laundry. Any of that work that can be shared will be better for everyone. If your parents can feel like they are contributing to the overall well-being of the household, they will feel better. Since parents are home during the day, they can help with after school snacks and meal prep. Some parents can help with all day child care, depending on their ability and energy levels.
Clipping coupons is a way to save money and is an acitivity that cna be done sitting down. Meal planning and making grocery lists fall into this same category. As you go through the daily chores, think about what could be done by your parent. Try to find things that your parent can do well and is within their abilities. It doesn't help too much if they have poor eyesight, yet insist on doing the dishes and then you have to rewash them after they have gone to bed because they couldn't see the food still left on the plates.
Folding laundry is another chore that can be easily shared. Also, laundering the household sheets and towels are hard to mess up. Don't let other people do your delicate or hard to care for items if you will be sad if they shrink or change color. Keeping to a schedule can help your parent pass the days more easily - knowing that they are needed to do something on certain days.
Keeping the calendar for dates to remember for extended family and friends can be a great way to keep your parent involved and you will always be right on top of birthdays and anniversaries.
Gardening and pulling weeds is good exercise and can help keep your yard in tip top shape. Beware of power tools. Not everyone should still be wielding a chain saw. There are knee boards and pull along wagons that can make gardening easier on old bones.
Overseeing homework time and coming up with ideas for school stories and projects can give you a break in the evening and gives your parents a chance to share a lifetime of experience and wisdom with your children.
Volunteer opportunities outside the home also give your parent a chance to make a difference in the community and share their day with your family. Check with volunteermatch.org or with local nursing homes to see if they need a little extra help.
Ask your parent if there is anything they miss doing or would like to be more involved in.
Getting help in your home can be a sanity saver. There is an emerging class of professionals who can help attend to your aging parents: Geriatric-care managers. These are typically for-profit social workers or nurses specializing in elder issues. They can attend doctor's appointments with the patient, supervise medication, hire and oversee home health assistants, assess your home for safety hazards and recommend home modifications, or as a last resort, find and evaluate assisted-living or nursing homes. Typical cost: $80 to $200 an hour. This is rarely covered by insurance, but may well be worth the money. Care managers are familiar with the resources needed to take care of your parents. The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (www.caremanager.org) can provide local referrals. |
| Parents in the House.net |
Your Resource and Survival Guide
for living happily ever after |
|
