How To Take Care Of An Aging Loved One

As we age, we require more assistance than we used to. This comes, of course, after a lifetime of independence and being the caretakers ourselves. The change in circumstances can be frustrating, which is why there can often be a lot of friction when you take up the mantle of taking care of your aging relatives. Rather than let their reluctance win, follow this simple guide on how to take care of an aging loved one.

How to Take Care of Their Health

As we age, our bodies may not work as well as they once did. It is a natural part of life, which is why one of the best ways that you can help your aging loved one is to support them as they make the necessary dietary changes. This means helping them kick bad habits, and it means helping them eat healthy foods as much as possible. This could mean making food for them, or it could mean staging an intervention. What you will need to do will depend on their habits and lifestyle. Generally speaking, if they are not eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising at least three times a week, then you need to help them achieve that standard.

How to Take Care of Their Social Needs

Retirement can become socially isolating very quickly. This is because we often underestimate how much our coworkers fill our social needs throughout the week. When we retire, we lose those connections. That is why you need to work with your loved one to find new things to do and new ways to make friends. Thankfully, the retirement community is very welcoming – sign your loved one up to community classes or even find a local walking group for them to join. This should be on top of putting in an effort to see them more often as well. Join them on these escapades, and you will strengthen your bond with them and help them create a new life outside of work.

How to Know When Something is Wrong

In the cases where you are not their primary caretaker, or you are sharing in that responsibility, there are still things you can do to safeguard your loved one’s health. Namely, you should become familiar with the many different signs of elder abuse. The last thing you want is for your loved one to be taken advantage of in any situation because losing the ability to take care of yourself is excruciating enough without adding abuse to the list. If you do recognize any signs of abuse, you will need to get your loved one out of that situation immediately and then contact an elder abuse attorney like those at Garcia Law. They will help you get the compensation and justice your loved one deserves, and make sure that the perpetrator never does anything like it again.

Being more present in an aging loved one’s life is always a great idea. You can help encourage them to make healthy lifestyle changes and reconnect and bond in ways you weren’t able to before. The more effort you put in, the more rewarding the experience will be for the both of you.