Ensuring that your senior parents have the best care possible is the purest form of love and a show of gratitude for the years they have been in your life. As they grow older, they may need assistance with daily living activities such as dressing, bathing, meal preparation, and running errands to maintain high levels of independence. One way to ensure they get all that is by having them move in with you.
However, as much as you might want to provide them with the best possible care, the same can be overwhelming, especially if you have your children to take care of and other work engagements. All this may leave you with little to no "me time." Here are some tips for balancing caring for elderly parents and having time for yourself.
Keep Them Active and Engaged
One of the reasons for having senior parents move into your home is for them to have some company and not get lonely. As you stay with them, you can create a calendar of wellness and engaging activities they can participate in during the day. For example, you can sign them up for daily exercises in a local gym or look for senior support groups where they can regularly meet and interact with their agemates.
With a scheduled daily routine where you won't be on their watch all the time, you create a convenient time to concentrate on your personal well-being.
Here are some physical and mental wellness activities you can get them into:
- Daily exercises
- Community outreaches
- Senior support groups
- Religious sessions
Ask for Help From Family Members
If you have siblings or close family members living nearby, you could ask for their help taking care of your parents. Don't be afraid to approach siblings and close family members for assistance; they care about your parents too. For example, you can come up with a timetable depending on individual work schedules so that everyone can have their much-needed personal time. You can also be specific about care services that you find overwhelming or time-consuming and cannot handle independently.
Engage Professional Home Care Services
Many people consider the option of taking their senior loved ones to assisted living homes. Maybe they are too busy at work and think they may not provide the best care to their senior parents in their homes. However, that can be an inconvenient option for everyone involved. Your parents will take them to adjust to a new environment and meet new people, and you wouldn't get to see them as often as you'd like.
Luckily, you can get in-home senior care services and go to work knowing your parents are well cared for. Our professional caregivers will provide compassionate care and help your senior parents with their daily needs. That will also allow you some quality time for yourself.
Get Professional Help Taking Care of Your Senior Parents
Taking care of senior loved ones, including your parents, should also allow you space for personal growth and autonomy. If you live in Frederick, Hagerstown, Thurmont, or Middletown, MD, Senior Helpers of Frederick provides just the in-home senior care solutions you need. Our caregivers are trained to provide specialized care for seniors with chronic diseases, those who need assistance with daily activities, and some companies. Contact Senior Helpers of Frederick today to learn more about our senior home care services.