The Brief and Only Elderly Care Checklist You’ll Ever Need

Approximately 34 million Americans provide at least some unpaid care to an individual over the age of fifty. Sometimes, these individuals need assistance because of a disability or severe health problem. But, usually, they are aging adults.

Elderly care is a weighty responsibility, so if you’ve decided to take on the task of attending to your aging parents, you may be overwhelmed. To make the job a little easier, we’ve prepared an elderly care checklist. On it, you’ll find everything you need to attend to your loved one’s needs, so keep reading!

Make a Caregiving Plan

When you first start caring for your parents, you’ll need to develop a plan and coordinate your schedule with their doctor’s appointments and routine. Doing so is especially important if you’ll be sharing this role with siblings or other family members.

Even if you decide to care for your parents in their home, you should inform yourself of the different options available to you, such as:

• In-home care
• Assisted or senior living facilities
• Nursing homes

If you learn all the options from the start, it will be easier to make decisions down the line if circumstances change.

Assure Your Parents’ Safety

As your parents advance in age, they’ll be more prone to falls and other accidents. So, you’ll need to ensure to take some precautions, such as:

• Removing tripping hazards from walkways, such as cords or slippery rugs
• Installing bars in showers and next to toilets
• Applying non-skid tread to stairs

You may also want to get your elderly parent a monitor or watch they can use in an emergency. For example, wearing a GPS device will allow them to get help if they fall. And, you can track them if they wander off and get lost.

Ensure They Have Proper Healthcare

Most older individuals qualify for public benefits, so look into the following programs:

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Social Security Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Security Income
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Of course, if your parents have Medicare, you’ll want to ensure they also have Medicare Part D. Having this coverage can save them a lot of money on essential medications.

Talk to Your Parent’s About Their Wishes

In the future, dementia or other illnesses may make it difficult for you to speak to your parents about their wishes. So, it’s important to take the time to ask them how they would like to be remembered, even if their death is a long way off.

You’ll be glad you had this conversation since it will allow you to give them the best arrangements possible.

Provide the Best Elderly Care Possible

After reading this elderly care checklist, you’re better prepared to give your aging loved ones the assistance and support they need. But, of course, don’t forget to ask for help from other family members and look for programs that assist caregivers! By doing so, you can lighten your load!

Would you like more tips on senior care or lifestyle and wellness? If so, check out more of our content that can help you and your loved ones have optimal health!