Did you know that over 50 million seniors live in the United States? That’s about 16.5% of the nation’s entire population.
Many of those older adults, in turn, reside alone in their own homes.
Unfortunately, unattended elders living at home have a higher risk for accidents. They’re also more likely to develop health problems or become undernourished.
So if your elderly parents desire to age in place, too, it’s time you learn about proper aged care strategies.
Keep reading as we’ve shared our top tips below.
Contents
Invest in Fall-Proofing Home Upgrades
About a quarter of older adults in the U.S. will experience a fall accident each year. Of these seniors, three million will require emergency medical assistance.
You can help reduce such risks by installing anti-slip flooring in your parents’ home. Be sure to add grab bars in bathrooms and toilets, too. Replacing a traditional tub with a walk-in kind or a standard shower can also help.
Consider Meal Prep
Meal prepping means preparing multiple healthy meals ahead of time. It saves a lot of time because it involves readying several dishes in one go. After that, you (or your parents) only have to pop them in the oven or microwave.
Prepping healthy meals for your elderly parents helps them meet their nutritional needs. It’s also a convenient way to control food portions, which can then help reduce obesity risks. Plus, it minimizes your folks’ need to handle knives.
Develop a Medication Reminder System
About 87% of U.S. adults aged 65 to 79 use prescription medications. That goes up to 91% among patients in their 80s. What’s more, they take not only one but multiple medicines in a day.
Thus, it’s no wonder some elderly adults forget to take their medications on time. Or, they might double-dose if they forgot they’ve already taken their medicines.
So when caring for elderly parents taking meds, post reminders in their home. It can be as simple as written messages telling them the exact time to take their medications. Another idea is to create a dated checklist or chart they can mark after medicating.
Just as crucial, though, is that you also keep a copy of your parents’ medication schedules. Then, text or call them during these times to ask if they’ve already taken their medicines.
Enlist Quality Aged Care Services
Aged care services provide non-medical help for senior citizens’ activities of daily living. Such tasks may include bathing, grooming, or housekeeping assistance, according to https://www.visitingangels.com/siouxfalls/home. Other examples are preparing healthy meals, providing medication reminders, and delivering enjoyable companionship.
Moreover, professional senior care providers can provide these services in their patients’ homes. To top it all off, you can specify how many hours a day your elderly parents at home need help. Alternatively, you can hire live-in assistance so the care provider can stay with your folks 24/7.
Keep These Aged Care Tips in Mind
Remember: About nine in 10 older adults say they wish to maintain independence. Part of that desire is to continue living in their own home.
If that’s what your parents want, you can grant them that but keep our aged care tips in mind. Following them can help your folks safely age in place and remain independent.
Did you like this article and would like to read other informative guides? Then please feel free to browse more of our blog posts now!
