Leaving aging parents at home while heading out for work often brings about understandable concerns. Yet, proactive measures to address their needs and establish a safe, supportive environment can significantly alleviate these worries. This article outlines essential aspects to consider before departing, prioritizing their safety through a comprehensive approach.
Implementing these measures ensures their well-being, providing reassurance while you attend to work commitments. Assurance of your elderly parents' secure and comfortable environment provides peace of mind, aiding your focus on professional responsibilities.
Ensure a Safe and Accessible Environment
Ensuring safety at home is crucial, especially considering the prevalence of fall-related injuries among older adults.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every year, approximately 3 million older individuals seek emergency treatment for fall-related injuries. Among them, at least 300,000 older people require hospitalization specifically for hip fractures.
To mitigate these risks, it's vital to conduct a thorough assessment of the home environment. Installing handrails, adequate lighting, and non-slip surfaces in areas prone to hazards can significantly reduce the likelihood of falls.
Additionally, considering assistive devices like medical alert systems or emergency call buttons that are easily accessible to your parents in case of need is essential.
Ensuring essential items are within their reach further minimizes the risk of unnecessary strain or accidents, promoting a safer living space for aging parents.
Establish a Support Network
Creating a robust support system for your aging parents is pivotal, especially in ensuring their well-being and engagement. Engaging neighbors, friends, or relatives to check in on them periodically during the day fosters a sense of community care.
Additionally, enrolling them in community programs offering social engagement or support services enhances their social connections and overall quality of life. According to a study conducted by AARP, approximately 43.5 million Americans provided unpaid care to a family member in 2015.
Many of these caregivers relied on social support networks and community services to aid in caring for their older family members.
Furthermore, hiring a Gerontology nurse practitioner, often trained through advanced programs like the DNP acute care nurse practitioner program, can be immensely beneficial.
Specialized practitioners catering to older adults offer comprehensive care customized to their specific needs. They provide not only companionship but also expert assistance in managing health issues and medications, thereby promoting a higher quality of life for aging individuals.
Baylor University notes that their specialized training enables them to effectively tackle the distinctive challenges associated with elderly care. This expertise significantly contributes to the well-being and comfort of aging parents left at home, ensuring a higher quality of care and support.
Organize Medication and Healthcare Needs
As per the MSD Manual, a significant majority of older adults manage multiple prescription medications, with approximately 36% handling five or more different prescriptions. This situation often poses challenges, requiring careful coordination and organization of various medications.
Therefore, ensuring that medications are well-organized, labeled clearly, and taken according to the prescribed regimen becomes crucial. Implementing a streamlined prescription management system is key to aiding aging parents in maintaining adherence to their medication schedules.
Utilizing aids like pill organizers or medication reminder apps further enhances their ability to manage and follow their prescribed medication regimen effectively.
Moreover, maintaining an easily accessible list that includes emergency contacts and healthcare providers' numbers is crucial for immediate access during medical emergencies. On top of that, having insurance information readily available ensures swift and efficient handling of inquiries or necessary procedures.
Plan for Meals and Daily Necessities
As individuals age, maintaining a nutritious diet becomes crucial for reducing the risk of chronic diseases and sustaining overall health.
For numerous seniors or older adults, the task of preparing nutrient-rich meals poses a challenge. This challenge can lead to nutritional frailty, characterized by a decline in muscle mass and strength, heightening vulnerability to injury and illness.
Recognizing this, Healthline suggests exploring healthy meal delivery services as a viable option. These services offer convenient delivery of meals and ingredients directly to the doorstep.
They provide easy-to-prepare options, including fully prepared meals or meal kits that require minimal to no preparation time. These meal services support older adults by providing access to nutritious food while alleviating meal preparation challenges.
Likewise, arranging grocery deliveries or assisting with essential shopping ensures access to toiletries, household supplies, and suitable clothing, enhancing their well-being and comfort.
Stay Connected and Communicate Regularly
As per the Pew Research Center, 75% of individuals aged 65 and older are now Internet users. It's noteworthy that the gap in internet use between the oldest and youngest adult groups has seen a remarkable reduction. Specifically, this gap has decreased from 56 percentage points in 2000 to 24 points at present.
Given these trends, maintaining regular communication is vital when elderly parents are left at home. Scheduling check-ins throughout the day via phone calls, video chats, or messaging apps fosters a consistent connection. Encouraging open dialogue about any concerns or needs they might have is equally important.
Leveraging technology is pivotal for staying connected and ensuring reassurance about their well-being. This is particularly significant due to the rising internet usage among older adults and the decreasing gap in technology adoption across various age groups.
Conclusion
Leaving aging parents at home while you work demands thoughtful planning and attention to crucial aspects. Ensuring these vital elements fosters a secure and comfortable environment for your elderly parents.
Regular communication is vital to ensuring their well-being and providing peace of mind while you're occupied with work commitments. Remember you can always contact a lawyer to talk about establishing a nursing home abuse claim if your parents mention any type of abuse, this way you'll also have a lawyer as part of your support network. Additionally, periodically reassessing their needs helps maintain a supportive environment for your aging parents at home.