Ageing is a part of the life cycle, and it affects all the families in the world. As young adults, we may not comprehend the extent while imagining our parents as seniors and not exactly understand how their ageing affects them or us. If they are seniors and already in good health then we may not feel any dramatic changes or concerns. However, a time comes when their health starts to lower and effects of ageing become evident. At this time, they need someone to say, “I care for you”.
A decline in physical and mental strength shows evident changes in the appearance, emotional well-being and quality of life for our parents. Many institutions provide helping hand in Birmingham, but the key here is to know more about their ageing and what options we have to give them the care they deserve. Let us consider some important features through which we can easily state that we care for you and your well-being.
Activities of Daily Living
These daily essentials are the activities necessary for the physical and emotional well-being and dignity of our parents. These ensure that the daily living requirements and daily needs have effectively met. The basic activities of daily living are as follows:
- Self-feeding
- Mobility (getting out of bed, out of chair etc.)
- Bathing or showering
- Dressing
- Personal Hygiene
- Toilet Hygiene
In case they have impaired mobility or have health, issues that make it difficult for them to perform these daily activities on their own, you need proper assistance. Whether look for helping hands in Birmingham like Care4U or find appropriate equipment or accessories. Either way, your parents need care and assistance to perform these tasks and continue doing thing independently.
Other activities that do not specify themselves as essentials but present in daily living termed as instruments of everyday life. These IDL’s most often refer to certain activities like:
- Meal preparation
- Taking medications
- Marinating the house
- Running errands and money management
- Communicating through phone or other devices
Again, these activities serve as the well-being fundamentals for parents if they are met adequately. Arrangement of help is possible if you or your siblings are the ones giving it or other institutions like Care4U that provide professional care to the elderly.
Living Arrangements
A critical point to look for in the well-being of parent care is the condition they live in. Whether along or close to you or any relative, living arrangements need serious discussions with the elderly. Some most common type of living arrangements for parents listed below serve as most preferred ones:
- Ageing in a home is the most preferred condition where the elderly stay in the comfort of their homes. No other thing is better than the ongoing care given by you to your parents at home.
- Those parents, looking for mobile homes or rental apartments to live with other seniors who prefer independent living communities. Amenities provided like laundry, fitness gyms, housekeeping etc. serve as their fulfilment of daily activities. Those who live independently but still need assistance may look for assisted living communities.
- Nursing homes provide a helping hand in Birmingham for seniors that require medical assistance and caregiving but do not need a hospital. These homes offer staff available for every care facilities.
- Some seniors need assistance in healthcare and daily activities while living with relatives for companionship.
Finances
There is no doubt that finances play the most impactful part in supporting caregiving and making necessary changes. Elderly need assistance in managing their finances and retirement funds to make them financially secure during senior years.
Getting Help from Support Groups
Support groups can provide you with a helping hand in Birmingham that gives you much needed support in caregiving. Some great sources of the support group are:
- Government benefits serve as the best source of help in providing information regarding benefits and assistance programs. These cover health, insurance, disability income and many more
- Area agency is a federally maintained agency in town staffed by professional who knows about caregiving services for seniors. They have funds available that support the eligible elderly parents for assistance.
Final Word
In the end, we all take a caregiver role for our elderly parents even if we do not live with them or provide daily care. As parents, they once provided care and concerns for us and now is the time to give it back to them and say, “I care for you and will assist you in every way I can”. No matter how you look at it, care for parent’s means that have a healthy and safe life and know they have all the care they need. You feel a peace of mind if you feel a surety in their well-being.
