Tips to Help Your Parents Continue to Live At Home Instead of Assisted Living Centers

Most of us care deeply about our parents. They spent many years taking care of us while we grew up. As they age, it becomes our turn to worry and take care of them. While assisted living facilities can certainly be a great resource and the best solution for some situations, many parents prefer to stay in their homes as long as possible. 

You have your own family and responsibilities, and it’s impossible for you to always be there to look after your parents as they age and become more prone to falls and injuries. How can you make it work? Keep reading to learn some simple tips that may help you keep your parents living in their home. 

Medical Alert Devices

One great way to keep track of your parents and let them maintain some independence is through medical alert devices. There are medical alert systems with fall detection that can be set up in your parent’s home and will alert emergency response should something be detected. These systems come with different options, so be sure to do some research to determine which you feel is the best fit. 

Among medical alert devices, one of the most common is a wearable device that detects falls, unusual movements, or even lack of movement. There are other systems that you can use voice to activate and call for help. There are many options to create a solution for every need. 

Community Involvement

As long as your parents are physically able to get around, they should. Keeping them involved in the community and local activities is good for their physical and mental well-being. Going to the local senior center for meals or to play bingo and card games might just be the highlight of their day. 

Allowing your parents to stay part of these activities and mingle with other people that are their age is so good for them. It can get incredibly lonely just sitting at home all day. This is a great way to keep them active and maintain a quality social life too. 

Home Health Assistance

When you choose to allow your parents to remain in their home rather than going to an assisted living facility, you still need resources. While your parents likely can perform most of their daily tasks, they may need some assistance with basic needs. A great way to keep them at home and make sure they get some medical help with basic care is to hire home health. 

There are many different options for home health. In some cases, they simply come into the home to check on things regularly and ensure meds are being taken and everyone is in good health. In other cases, they might perform IV care, check wounds, and provide additional care and services. This depends on needs and the level of care required. 

Be Honest and Open

This is the time to have an open and honest conversation with your parents. You may have to be strict with them about being honest with their true needs. Many aging parents are stubborn about admitting when they can no longer do something on their own. For this to work well, they have to be honest, and you will need to have a deep conversation about needs and wants for home living.

Share your concerns with them and ask them to be straightforward about what they can or cannot do on their own. Let them know you want to make this work, but you need transparency to ensure they are properly cared for as well. 

Home Adjustments

In some cases, it may be necessary to do some remodeling in the home to adjust for aging needs. For example, the shower may need a safety bar installed. This is just one example of important changes that may need to happen. Do an audit of the home and consider safety. Where may they need additional support, and are there hazards that should be remedied? 

You can probably work with a health professional to do a walk-through of the home and make recommendations for changes that might be helpful as well. 

Final Thoughts

It is not unusual for parents to want to stay in their homes as long as possible. It’s where they are comfortable and feel the most independence. There are plenty of resources to help make this happen. You just need to be willing to make the effort to fulfill their needs. It is also important to note that assisted living facilities are not always a bad thing. There are senior living communities that maintain full independence, and that may also be a good fit. Do your best to prepare for the safety and physical needs of your parents.