Seeing your parents age is a hard thing to do. A lot of individuals look up to and find confidence in their parents. They may have raised you alone and never needed help around the home since they were self-sufficient. But as they grow older, they lose strength in their muscles and bones, and the frailty that comes with old age can prevent them from doing certain activities. For that reason, support is needed.
However, it’s not always easy for parents to admit when they really need help. After all, no one enjoys being notified that they’re getting old. If you’re struggling to find answers, below are some things to take into consideration as you make important decisions for your folks and the services they may need most.
What Services Do Seniors Need Most?
As our parents age, they will start having difficulty with everyday activities such as cooking, housekeeping, and personal care. So what can you expect as they get older? What are the tasks older people need help with the most? Here are a few of the required services that aging parents often need help with:
Transportation and Mobility
Most seniors experience a decline in mobility, and they get tired more quickly, making it hard for them to go places. On top of that, their vision and reactions will worsen, making things like driving unsafe for them. Fortunately, several types of long-term care services provide transportation and daily support with mobility when needed.
Medical Attention
Seniors may require medical attention for many reasons. Doctor visits and eye care are necessary, but other services, like physical or mental treatment, must also be maintained. In some circumstances, a facility or respite care in Virginia can help seniors who need assistance with tasks such as taking medications and injections.
Nutrition
Malnutrition is common among the elderly. Difficulties with buying and preparing food can make it more challenging to meet dietary needs. As an added complication, some medications and health problems can trigger changes in the desire for food, which can contribute to older people skipping their meals.
Therefore, food and nutrition assistance is a top-rated service among the elderly. Services ranging from in-home chefs to nutritional experts can help seniors obtain essential nourishment and other needs. If you are looking for such services, there are many options for home care in Fairfax, VA, that can provide assistance with a nutritional plan for your elderly parents.
Social Interaction
For many seniors, life can be ruined by a lack of companionship. A person’s emotional and physical welfare can be considerably enhanced when they have solid connections with other people. Aging adults can experience actual physical signs and symptoms when they are alone.
If you have a senior parent, it is essential to invest in a service that will allow them to maintain a healthy social life. This could be in the form of a caregiver who simply spends time with the senior or a transportation service that makes it much easier for the senior to attend social activities.
Personal Care
When a senior’s physical or mental health declines, so does their personal hygiene too. Simple routines for self-care, like washing up, brushing one’s teeth, changing into clean clothes, and shaving, can become stressful or confusing.
And the only choice is to help them. However, sometimes an older person would rather receive personal home care in Virginia from a trained professional than a family member because it protects their privacy around relatives.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your parents can be an overwhelming obligation. Fortunately, many resources and care alternatives are available, including in-home care. Remember, you can help your aging parents keep their health and freedom for as long as possible by figuring out what they need and finding the best way to get it.