As you get older this means that your parents are getting older as well. Unfortunately, this means that they may be relying on you more than ever as you did when you were younger. The roles are most definitely reversed when relatives get older.
Here are four ways you can make sure your elderly relatives are safe and looked after.
Ensure They Are Looking After Themselves
If your relatives live by themselves then you need to be sure they are capable of this. Elderly people commonly forget to take care of their hygiene so you need to be sure they are washing or showering. A lot of elderly people visit hair salons to get their hair washed and dried at least once a week. This saves them the hassle and the danger of them doing it themselves.
As well as hygiene you need to check your relatives are eating well-balanced meals each day. They could be forgetting to eat, meaning they are susceptible to low immunity. This opens them up to lots of nasty germs and infections.
Visit Them Often
Unfortunately, elderly people are prone to loneliness. This is due to them losing loved ones and close friends. It is important to encourage them to get out of the house and join a social group or something like that. Elderly people who regularly miss out on social gatherings and stay indoors are 80% more likely to develop early-onset dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Visiting them gives them the company they need and a chance to talk to another human being. You could also equip them with the technology they need to stay in touch with family and friends. This could be in the form of a phone with video chat enabled or a device such as an Amazon Alexa.
Be Aware Of Accidents
As your relatives get older they become less stable and balanced on their feet. Elderly people are more likely to fall as their blood pressure doesn’t remain stable, this causes dizziness and fainting spells. Vision impairments can also cause elderly relatives to fall, be sure to get them regular checkups with their doctor and opticians.
If the worst should happen and you find that your elderly relative has taken a fall then ensure they get the help they need. Take them to an urgent care centre where they can be checked over and given the all-clear.
Hire Help
Finally, we know it can be a lot to take care of elderly relatives while also trying to live your life. If things get too difficult then you can always hire some help to pop in and check on them for you. This includes befriending services where someone goes in and chats to your relatives, keeping them company for a little while. You can also get catering companies to prepare and deliver meals to your elderly relatives to save them the hassle.
We hope you found this article helpful and it gives you some general information on how to ensure your elderly relatives are well looked after. Be aware that a lot of elderly folks will pretend to be okay as they feel they don’t need help from anyone. Your relatives might be very proud people and view themselves as having coped with a lot in their life.
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