Blake Medical Center

Top Tips for Caring for Your Aging Parents

It’s tough for most of us to come out and admit that we need help with basic day-to-day activities, particularly when the people we need assistance from are our own adult children. Likewise, it's just as hard on “the kids” when the tables turn and they find themselves taking care of Mom and Dad.

Mental Health America reports that 44% of Americans between the ages of 45 and 55 have both living parents and children under the age of 21. Taking care of your own family—and yourself—along with your elderly parents can definitely take its toll, particularly if your mother or father is suffering from dementia or denies the need for support.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when taking care of your aging parents, but the following tips can help reduce your own stress as you deal with the situation:

• Take care of yourself. First and foremost, don’t neglect yourself just because you are concerned about your parents. Try your best to eat right, exercise as much as possible, and get enough sleep. If you become ill, you won’t be able to offer much assistance!
• Know your parents’ medications. It’s very easy for elderly people to forget to take their medications. Keep a chart listing which medications your parents take at what times of day. Make note of the dosage and what the pills or liquids look like. Accidentally missing or intentionally skipping medications can be incredibly harmful to your parents’ health—get a divided pill tray to help them (and you!) remember to take medications.
• Keep track of allergies and medical conditions.  Make note of any allergies your parents may have, as well as medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Keeping a list of any surgeries they have had over the years is also a good idea, particularly if they have had a device such as a pacemaker or prosthetic hip implanted.
• Always keep a list of your parents’ doctors. If you aren’t 100% sure of your parents’ medical history, keep track of their doctors’ names and numbers. This will come in handy in case of an emergency, particularly if you are their main caregiver / support system.
• Ask for help.  Caring for your elderly parents can be incredibly stressful, especially if you still have children at home. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you don’t have siblings or other relatives who can give you a break every now and then, check with the Eldercare Locator, a public service provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging. It is a nationwide directory assistance program that helps older people and their caregivers locate local support and resources.

Need to find a general physician or specialist for your aging parents? Blake Medical Center is proud to offer the free telephone physician referral service Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-888-359-3552. Our nurses and referral specialists can help you find a doctor, make an appointment, and even provide helpful answers to many health-related questions.

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Tags: Alzheimer's, Blake Medical Center, Bradenton Hospitals, caring for aging parents, dementia, senior care, seniors