Around 85% of seniors have at least one chronic condition that can affect their daily living. The problem is that it can be difficult to know if aging parents are getting the care they need for these conditions. Most parents don't wish to cause their children to worry and can mask problems until those problems become too overwhelming.
Sitting down with your parents and having a comfortable but serious conversation can change your parents' lives for the better.
Liberty Court is here to guide you through the most important questions for elderly parents so you don't have to worry that you've missed something vital. Keep reading to learn more about why these questions are key to a senior's well-being and how to approach these difficult topics.
When it comes to discussing care with parents, it's good to start the conversation with a generalized question. It can be a great opener to more serious topics and gets everyone in the same mindset.
Don't be afraid to delve deeper into a parent's answer. If they simply answer with 'fine', try to come up with more specific questions. Other topics to try could be:
It's trickier for people to bypass more specific questions which can give you better insight into how your parents are truly feeling.
Exercise is something everyone knows is important, but it's also a chore that many people tend to neglect. Without some form of exercise, your parent may start to suffer from certain conditions including:
Lack of exercise can also affect chronic conditions and cause the symptoms to worsen. If you notice that your parent doesn't get enough exercise in their daily life, help them join more senior activities in their elderly care planning.
Liberty Court's senior community, for example, enjoys a full calendar of activities that keeps residents interested and involved. Getting your parents involved with such a community can make a big difference in their overall lifestyle.
Loneliness and depression are conditions that often afflict seniors and they can be difficult to alleviate. The benefits of socialization go beyond preventing loneliness, however. Regular social interactions can also have a positive effect on a senior's cognitive capabilities.
Asking this question can pinpoint a lack of socialization and the need to help your parents get more connected with other people.
It can be a question that some people try to deflect but don't give up on trying to figure out more information. Calm patience can go a long way in helping your parent feel more at ease in giving honest answers.
Proper management of pills ensures that your parents maintain a certain level of health. If there's ever a problem with dosages, it can cause repercussions to their mental and physical health.
A missed dose once in a while isn't a cause for concern. When seniors begin to miss several during a week or take the wrong pills at the wrong time, it's time to start thinking about other aging parent care tips.
Setting up a pill organizer can be enough for some people, but others may require more involved help. Sometimes a move to assisted living may be the best course of action. As you continue asking essential questions, the right path for your parents will start to become clear.
When the topic of potential retirement or a move to assisted living comes up, you should have a clear idea as to which routines and amenities are key to your parents' happiness. This will make the transition to the right senior community much easier for everyone.
Certain services and amenities to ask about include:
If you're looking for a community that offers all of the above, and more, then look no further than Liberty Court. Our Dixon community strives to make every resident's transition as comfortable and seamless as possible!
Asking about a person's finances can feel like an invasion of privacy at times. The thing to remember is that you're only asking for your parents' well-being.
Remind them during the conversation that you're not trying to pry or judge and that you only want to help.
By knowing the specifics of their financial situation, you'll have a better idea of how to help in the future. Looking for an affordable Dixon senior community, for example, is easier to handle when you know how far their finances will go.
It's not uncommon to forget small details as we get older, but sometimes memory can take a sudden turn. The key is to take precautions before it becomes an emergency.
Of all the parental health questions you ask, take extra note of this one. You might need immediate access to certain documents sometime in the future. It's a good idea to stay updated whenever your parents move these documents so you're never forced to search for them in a time of need.
Although these questions are never easy, they are vital to ensuring your aging parents get the kind of future care they want and deserve. When concerns become too much, make sure to go through senior living options until you find a community that brings both you and your parents peace of mind.
Liberty Court is a pet-friendly Dixon community with a variety of convenient amenities to help seniors transition to retirement with ease. We host many activities, social events, exercise groups, and games to keep our residents happy and healthy.
Contact us today and we'll help you schedule a tour so you can see our beautiful senior community in person!