4 Tips to Help Aging Parents Stay in Their Homes

As your parents’ age, they may face challenges that make it difficult to stay in their own homes safely. But because your parents are seniors doesn’t mean they have to move into assisted living or a nursing home. You can help your aging parents stay in their homes in many ways and put these tips to work immediately.

1. Make the home as safe as possible

Start by going into your parent’s home with a plan to make the home as safe as possible. As you go through the house, you will want to watch for common safety issues, such as:

• Cluttered hallways, rooms, and stairwells
• Absence of handrails in bathrooms
• Poor lighting inside or outside of the home
• Overloaded power strips or other unsafe electrical setups
• Lack of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or detectors with expired batteries
• Sagging or warped areas in carpet or linoleum

Cahoon Care’s Home Safety Checklist for Seniors and Older Adults is another great resource. The checklist includes details about common home safety issues and how to fix them. Consider printing it out and bringing it with you as a guide.

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2. Discuss your parent’s needs with his or her doctor

Please schedule an appointment with your parent’s doctor, and make sure you’re available to attend. If your parent hasn’t yet allowed their doctor to disclose medical information to you, now is the perfect time to have them fill out any necessary paperwork.

During the appointment, familiarize yourself with your parent’s physical and mental limitations. It’s important to know if your loved one has poor balance, decreased muscle strength, and mental confusion, which would affect their safety when staying in their home. Discuss with your parent’s doctor about their limitations so that you can make the home as safe as possible for them.

3. Consider the use of an emergency call device

Providing your parent with an emergency call device can provide both of you with peace of mind. A wearable emergency call device allows your parent to summon help at the push of a button without getting to a phone. This is particularly helpful in the event of a fall or if your parent finds themselves unable to get out of a chair or out of bed.

The Philips Lifeline is an excellent option that Cahoon Care recommends.

4. Consider home care

Depending on how independent your parent is, home care is a practical option that may help them to stay in their home. At Cahoon Care, we provide personalized, one-on-one care for your loved one. We offer various care options to ensure a senior’s needs are met. You can arrange for a caregiver to come in just once a week, but more involved care is certainly available for anyone who needs the help.

Home care can help a senior stay in their home in many ways. For instance, you may want a caregiver to:

• Help prepare nutritious meals for your parent
• Make sure your parent is taking their medications on time
• Help your parent run errands
• Provide your parent with companionship
• Do light housekeeping duties
• Transport your parent to doctor’s appointments or other appointments

The advantage of home care is that it can be tailored to your parent’s individual needs. A caregiver helps to take some of the responsibility for your parent’s care off of your plate, and a caregiver can be with your parent when you cannot be present.

Your Next Steps

You may find that some or all of these steps may help your parent stay in their home. If you want to explore how home care may help your parent, don’t hesitate to contact Cahoon Care today.

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