As we age, it can become more difficult to navigate the daily chores and challenges that go into maintaining a house and taking care of yourself. These sentiments hold for our parents; as they age, getting help managing these challenges can be important.
If you want support with caring for your elderly parents, there are many options to choose from that might provide the care they need. Some possibilities include in-home care, independent living, hospice, or assisted living.
You can feel confident knowing that our friendly and competent staff at Serenity Senior Care are dedicated to providing the best care we can.
Different Forms of Care For Older Adults
Basic Assistance Care
Basic assistance care can imply having a person visit your parents at their home to help with basic needs like grocery shopping, cleaning, meal preparation, and other housekeeping chores.
Independent Living
Independent living can be a great choice for older adults that don’t require help with daily tasks like meal preparation, personal hygiene, managing medications, or mobility. Instead, independent living typically provides access to medical care, community events, social gatherings, and other services.
Hospice Care
You might consider hospice care if your parents or loved one suffers from a terminal illness. It is a form of care offered to people that have 6 months or less to live and provides them with a team of doctors, nurses, counsellors, and aides that will work to keep them comfortable.
Assisted Living
Assisted living communities typically offer help with medication management, housekeeping, meal preparation, and other fun activities that residents can partake in.
Memory Care
Suppose your parents or loved one has dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another memory-based issue. In that case, you might consider memory care and support communities. Memory support residents can enjoy spacious living spaces, activities designed to stimulate the mind, 24/7 support, basic needs services, and more.
Respite Care
Respite care is generally arranged for a few hours, days or weeks to provide time off for a primary caregiver. Care can be accessed from your parent’s home, at various healthcare facilities, or from a community like Serenity Senior Care.
Assess Your Parent’s Needs & Wants
One of the first steps you can take in caring for an elderly parent is to assess their needs and wants. Have an open conversation about their challenges when living alone or with each other. Here are some questions you might want to consider:
- How is their mobility
- Are they at risk of falling?
- Are they experiencing mental health illnesses?
- Are they feeling sad or anxious about anything?
- Are they consistently paying their bills?
- Are they able to drive?
- Are they getting the groceries and essentials they need?
- Have you noticed any changes in appearance?
- Are they struggling with personal hygiene?
- Are they struggling with weight maintenance?
- Do they need help remembering to take medications?
These are a few questions and discussions you should have with your loved ones when looking at the support available and the level of care they need. That being said, your parent’s wants are important to consider when discussing care options.
Here are some things to look at when searching for support options:
- Are they comfortable living in a new place and with other people?
- What kind of amenities might they want?
- What kind of activities do they enjoy?
- Is there something you could do to make their life easier?
- What type of assistance might they want?
Assess Your Needs & Abilities to Help
In finding support for your parents or loved ones, it is important to assess your needs and what help you can provide. Here are some questions you might ask yourself when evaluating your abilities:
- Does your health allow you to manage taking care of others?
- Would you want to live with them?
- Are you willing or able to learn how to provide the care they need?
- Would spending lots of time together jeopardize your relationship with them?
Signs It Might Be Time for Senior Living Support
Senior living support and communities provide access to helpful services and fun activities that can make life enjoyable for our loved ones as they age. It may be worth considering senior living if you cannot provide your parent with the support they need.
Here are a few signs it might be time for senior living:
- Your parent’s or loved one’s mobility has changed and you’re worried about them falling or having an accident
- They can’t keep up with medication management or household chores
- Their mood has changed or they’re lonely
Conversing with your parent about senior living can seem daunting but can provide much-needed relief to both of your lives.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff at Serenity Senior Care to learn more about life in our loving and family-oriented community.
Get the Support You Need
At Serenity Senior Care, we make communicating with loved ones easy and offer the technology to make staying connected even easier. Learn more about our community by booking a tour or calling us today.
