There are many things to consider as we age yet one of the most poignant is that of dealing with aging parents.
When faced with the daunting reality of looking after ageing parents, it’s understandable that you might feel like the weight of the whole world is on your shoulders. This can be a very onerous and arduous task, not just practically, but emotionally – and perhaps this is the reason so many people choose to outsource care.
Indeed, with the best will in the world, there’s a limit to how much you can do. No matter how hard you try, you’re unlikely to be able to take full care of all their needs. Interestingly, a lot of times, we focus on or at least prioritise medical needs yet one of the most vital areas that are overlooked is that of tending to aging parents emotional and social needs.
One of the major problems elderly people face is that of loneliness. Indeed, the impact of loneliness can be more debilitating to some people than the physical ailments.
We always feel like we could or should be doing more… but it’s important to have balance in life and you need to live your own life too. This article therefore explores three options that can help lighten the load and ensure their emotional / social needs are taken care of.
DAILY CARE
It’s important to remember there’s only so much you can do, and sometimes it can feel more dignified to outsource certain aspects of care to a professional company that can create aged care packages relevant to your situation.
There are many benefits to this, one of the most pertinent being that an external professional isn’t as emotionally affected by the situation, as family will be. After all, it’s important you remember your own well-being as similarly to how airplane pilots always instruct us to tend to our own gas mask first, if you neglect your emotional needs – then you won’t be in a very good position to care for your parent(s).
PAID COMPANIONSHIP
A companion can provide great relief for both you and your parent, as often one of the core things old people miss is that of company and engagement. When searching for a companion it’s important for there to be a genuine connection that leads to a natural state of rapport, as otherwise it could feel a lot false and awkward.
DAYCARE
There are often many daycare options available that enable old people to interact with their peers, however, just because someone is elderly it doesn’t mean they will be happy to be put on a coach to do endless bingo sessions. It’s therefore important you find a daycare centre that is aligned with your parent(s) interests.
In summary, you can’t do it all on your own and you therefore need to find something suitable for your parent that naturally aligns with who they are, and what they like doing, in addition to their medical needs… as chances are one of the things they really miss in old age is the chance to develop deep and meaningful friendships rather than superficial acquaintances.
