Your parents may have indicated that they want to grow older at home, or you may think it's better for them to age in place. In-home care is a way to take care of seniors while keeping them out of a nursing facility. The following guide provides a few ways to prepare for assisting your loved ones.

How Can You Help Your Parents Age in Place?

1. Meet Social Needs 

While aging in place means that your parents can grow older in a familiar environment, they can also be prone to loneliness and isolation. Lack of social contact can exacerbate degenerative brain disorders, chronic illness, and inflammation. Therefore, establish a social calendar for your parents to ensure they are visited regularly and attend events with other seniors. 

2. Think About Safety 

Older adults are most at risk of falling, which is the leading cause of injuries for people over 65. However, making a few changes to the home can protect your parents. For example, add handrails, install a shower chair, and place nonskid bath mats in the bathroom to ensure they remain stable on slippery surfaces. Tripping hazards, such as wires and cables, should also be fastened to the wall whenever possible. 

Prevent potential poisoning by ensuring that medications and cleaning products are correctly stored and installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors while checking the batteries regularly.

3. Determine Responsibilities

If you're considering caring for your parents as they age, figure out what tasks you need to do and what your boundaries are. Break down each of your parents' care goals into daily, weekly, and monthly to-do lists. For example, they may need assistance with bathing every day and have a weekly social event that involves travel across town. Consider enlisting help from services that provide house calls, where someone comes in once a week to clean or offer meal deliveries. 

Taking on too much leads to burnout, reducing the quality of life for both yourself and your loved ones. Therefore, ask for support from family and friends.  You can also prevent fatigue by enrolling your parents in day programs and respite care services.

If you need help taking care of your aging parents, contact COMPASS Home Care in Anchorage, AK. Serving seniors throughout the area since 1980, they have the experience to ensure that your parents receive the trusted in-home care they need while maintaining their independence. Call (907) 276-6960 to discuss your needs with a friendly team member, or visit their website to learn more about their services.