How to Keep Your Elderly Parent in Their Own Home Successfully
Senior Care in Morris County NJ
You have always thought of your parent as a self-sufficient, independent, active-participant in life. During your recent visits, you’ve noticed their home is not as tidy, and a few of the items in their 
refrigerator have exceeded their expiration date by a month or more. Bills have been piling up on the counter. Clothes are overflowing from the laundry bin. You become concerned that they may not be eating right, possibly forgetting their medications, and spending more time alone than is emotionally healthy.
Step One
Gather the clan together. This should include anyone that may be concerned about your parent’s well-being including good friends. And, of course, your parent is a vital part of this discussion. Don’t create an atmosphere similar to an intervention. Inviting everyone to your parent’s home for a friendly get-together is a better way to edge into the conversation.
Topics to Address
Let your parent know you and those that love them would like to help out. And then let them share the areas of daily living that they feel have become challenging for them. If they have a hard time admitting that they’re not able to do what was once second nature, ask some open-ended questions such as “Do you still enjoy cooking?” The final tally needs to include the areas of daily living your parent is no longer comfortable performing: bathing, dressing, meal preparation, grocery shopping, housekeeping, paying bills, medication, mobility and transportation.
Second Step
Once their needs are determined, decide who is available to fill them and what their comfort level is regarding personal care such as bathing or assisting with incontinence, if applicable. Cast your net wide to include neighbors and community volunteers. Many towns have no cost community transportation for seniors. Others offer shared meals and social events at the local senior center.
Senior Care Provider
Senior care providers are a good addition to your parent’s care team. They can assist with all the daily activities of living, provide transportation as well as shop for groceries and run other errands. They are invaluable when it comes to providing companionship. They can prepare meals and then enjoy them with your parent. They can accompany your parent to social outings that they may not want to go to alone. They can help them become comfortable in their new role until it is, once again, second nature.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional senior care in Morris County, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
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