Why looking after your elderly relatives can be tough
When it comes to looking after elderly relatives who aren’t in a residential home, it can be quite tough to find the right balance.
You don’t want to feel as though you are invading on them too much or being too overbearing, but at the same time you don’t want them to feel as though you are doing the bare minimum and that you don’t really care.
In this article, we’re going to be looking at some of the things that you can do to look after your elderly relatives, keeping everyone involved as happy as possible.
Pop in once per day
First, we want to advise that you pop in once per day. Or, if this is not possible then once every few days just to make sure that everything is going okay. Make sure that they have a phone near them at all times whether they are home or whether they are out so that they can call you if they need you.
If you manage to see them once per day, they will know that you are coming, and anything non-urgent that they can’t do themselves can wait until you get there.
The only thing that we suggest is that you try to make sure that you’re getting them out of the house. Make sure that they are still heading out and enjoying life as much as they can, even if it’s just heading out for a coffee together.
Take extra precautions
You never know when something is going to happen, and neither do they, so you want to take some extra precautions when it comes to your relatives. This could be things like bars on the wall by the toilet to help them lift themselves up when they are finished, or it could be something like gps trackers for elderly people.
While some people may say that this is a huge invasion of privacy, it gives the person, and the family, the security that they need knowing that help is always available when it’s needed.
Do what you can
The final thing that we want to say is that you should do what you can, and that is all you can do. Whatever you manage is enough, as long as you are putting your best foot forward.
Nobody is asking you to sacrifice your own health, mental or otherwise, so make sure that you don’t. There are other options besides you taking care of them if you can’t manage on your own, even looking at siblings or finding senior living communities. Whatever you manage whenever you can is enough, we promise you that.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do when it comes to looking after your elderly relatives.
We know that it’s tough, and sometimes it can all feel a little overwhelming, but we know that you have got this. Take a breath, take a break and remember that it’s likely harder for them to have to accept help than it is for you to give it.
Photo by Dominik Lange
