As your parents get older, they need more help to maintain their independence. For seniors, independence is inextricably linked to their happiness and health. Neglecting to help them maintain their independence is neglecting their overall wellness. However, preserving aging parents' independence safely can be difficult. Fortunately, we are here to help.
Here is how geriatric care helps seniors maintain their independence:
Geriatric care helps your parents maintain independence by helping with housework and chores. As they get older, staying on top of these things gets harder for several reasons:
A caregiver can help with things like doing laundry, taking out the trash, washing dishes, cleaning, and even cooking to enable them to maximize their independence without sacrificing their health and safety. Assisting with day-to-day tasks also includes managing things they cannot afford to neglect, like:
Simply assisting them with things like grocery shopping will make them feel significantly more self-sufficient.
Another aspect of independence is transportation. Getting around and doing things when they want is critical to helping aging parents live fulfilling lives.
Eventually, they cannot safely drive anymore. Depending on the circumstances, helping them with local transportation is a viable solution, as is teaching them how to use apps like Uber. Ideally, however, someone would accompany them to assure their safety.
Geriatric care services are excellent because they also offer flexible, reliable driving services that enable them to retain their freedom, especially if you have to work or live far away and cannot taxi them around.
Simply being able to make doctor’s appointments or run errands alone empowers your parents to create new memories and enjoy their golden years.
Providing independence must also mean cultivating an accessible, safe space. Reducing clutter and messes and adding things like ramps or handrails mitigates the risk of slipping and falling. Plus, rearranging things to make items and appliances easier to reach is critical.
Check rugs to ensure they do not pose a slip hazard and ensure the indoor and outdoor lighting is optimized. Still, geriatric care is essential because professionals know precisely what installations and adjustments are required to maximize accessibility and safety.
Plus, if they have an accident, caregivers can ensure they get the help they need. More importantly, upgrading their home's safety and accessibility requires adapting to their new environment, and geriatric care services can facilitate that process.
Remaining social is essential to maintaining independence and maximizing your parents’ happiness. More importantly, being social is critical to their overall health.
Encourage your parents to stay involved with their community. Still, your parents will eventually need more and more help attending social events. Between family responsibilities and work, you likely cannot be available all the time.
Geriatric care services can help with transportation, which means they can help your parents attend social events. Whether it is volunteering, attending religious or community events, or simply taking a walk, social outings are crucial to their health.
More importantly, a caregiver is another person in their social circle who can function as a vital companion and provide much-needed human interaction.
If your parents are getting older and you are concerned about their wellbeing, helping them without sacrificing their autonomy is tricky. Ultimately, the best way to provide crucial assistance while enabling them to maintain their independence is through geriatric care. Fortunately, at Sage Medical, we offer quality care from quality people. Our passion is maximizing your loved ones’ happiness through communicative, tailored, and attentive service. Contact us now for the care your parents deserve!
