Introduction

Being a caregiver is hard work. It can be rewarding, but it can also be exhausting and overwhelming at times. Here are some tips for staying-at-home ageing parents who need help caring for their loved ones:

Take charge of their finances

• Get a will and power of attorney in place.
• Keep their financial records organized.
• Put together a budget that they can follow, including an allowance for fun activities.
• Don’t let them give money to scammers, such as those claiming they need help to pay their bills or to offer lottery winnings.

Oral Health

You’re probably used to brushing your teeth, but you may not be doing it correctly. Follow these tips to keep them clean and healthy:

• Use a soft toothbrush with a small head.
• Put a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the brush and then dip it in the water.
• Brush in an up-and-down motion for two minutes at least twice a day.
• Brush all surfaces of each tooth, including the biting surfaces (the top and bottom), inner surfaces (the tongue side) and outer surfaces (the cheek side).
• Floss daily to remove food particles from between teeth that your brush can’t reach.

You must see your regular dentist and restorative dentistry services at least once every six months for dental checkups, even if you don’t have any symptoms of oral disease or pain. If you do have pain or soreness in any part of your mouth that does not go away after two days, contact our office right away so we can help determine what treatment will work best for you!

Be mindful of their changing needs

If your parent is having trouble, it’s important to ask for help. You can begin by asking yourself some questions:

• Do I need to adjust my expectations of my parent’s ability?
• Is there a way in which I can support them more in the tasks they are doing?
• Do they have any physical problems that cause them pain or discomfort?

If you notice that your parent’s abilities have changed, there are several things you can do. First, try talking with your loved one about their concerns and feelings about the situation. This may make them feel more comfortable about telling others about the changes (such as friends or family members) who might be able to assist. Second, consider whether it would be helpful if a professional caregiver visited your home regularly so that s/he could monitor your parent’s safety and well-being while also giving them some extra time away from caregiving duties. Thirdly – if needed – consider seeking out additional resources such as trips outside the home (like grocery shopping) or even hiring an aide who will come into the house regularly (these services vary widely depending on geographic region).

Good Shoes

The number one thing you can do to help your ageing parent stay on their feet is to make sure they have good shoes. This can mean several things: first, the shoes are comfortable. They should be easy for an elderly person to put on and take off without assistance; they shouldn’t pinch or rub uncomfortably on any part of their foot; and they should not interfere with any medical conditions (like diabetes) that may require special footwear. Second, the shoe needs to be easy for your loved one to keep clean—not only because germs are gross, but also because dirty shoes are more likely than clean ones to cause infections in the foot. Finally, if possible choose a pair of comfortable walking shoes with a good grip so that your parent doesn’t fall in public places like grocery stores or restaurants where people might stare at them while trying not to laugh out loud at how adorable they look when they trip over themselves trying not only to get across but also remember where exactly they were going again this time around. Consult with a podiatrist like this podiatrist in Croydon if needed.

Housekeeping

If you are caring for an ageing parent, your home will become their home too. They may not be able to do the housekeeping or look after themselves as they once did. You need to keep the house clean, tidy and organised so that it is comfortable for them and safe from hazards.

If your loved one has dementia, their memories of life before the disease may be fading but there are still things that can trigger memories like smells and items around the home which remind them of past times. For example, if they grew up in a rural area with animals on a farm then having pictures or mementoes of this in their room could help trigger some happy memories for them that might bring comfort and joy instead of sadness at what they have lost mentally due to dementia.

Keeping your house clean by hiring NDIS cleaning services ensures that it is safe for everyone living there including yourself! Having messy rooms full of clutter makes it harder to find things when you need them. Clutter also attracts pests like mice who like hiding under piles of paper or clothing where nobody else would ever think about looking! Having clean surfaces also helps us focus better because our brains don’t get distracted by the messiness all around us.

Of course, cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of rubbish; you also need to make sure everything has its place so everything looks tidy even when it isn’t necessarily being used all at once. This means organising any paperwork into folders etcetera so nothing gets lost (including important documents like insurance policies) – yes even bills need organising even though we hate doing this ourselves too because it takes time away from something more fun than playing detective with our finances!

Hire an In-Home Caregiver

As you’re considering in-home caregivers, be sure to find one like this support coordination in Sydney who has experience dealing with your specific form of dementia. For example, if you have Alzheimer’s disease, a caregiver who has handled other patients with this diagnosis will be more helpful than someone who has only dealt with patients suffering from different forms of dementia. This is important because each form of dementia presents its challenges.

Caregivers also need to be experienced at caring for older adults in general or those within your age group specifically, so they can better understand what it means to care for people like you and adapt accordingly. For example, older adults require more frequent bathroom breaks than younger ones do—and if your caregiver hasn’t encountered this before, he or she may not know how best to handle it during the middle of the night when everyone else is asleep!

Finally (and perhaps most importantly), look for an individual who has experience dealing with any specific health issues you might have: whether it be heart disease or diabetes or arthritis—whatever health concerns apply specifically to your situation! Having someone on hand who understands these issues can help ensure that proper medication dosages are being followed as well as any other necessary steps are taken offsite (such as doctor appointments).

Join a caregiver support group

A support group is a great way to share your experiences and connect with other people who are going through similar challenges. A caregiver support group can provide you with a sense of community, a sounding board for ideas, and the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others. It’s also important to have someone who understands what you are going through and it’s easy to feel isolated when caring for an ageing parent or relative.

It may seem intimidating at first but joining a caregiver support group will help make you feel more empowered as well as relieve some of the stress associated with caregiving.

Find the time for yourself

• Find the time for yourself. As much as you want to help your family, you must take some time out for yourself. Take a break from caregiving, make time for friends and family, try to get out of the house and do something that you enjoy! Whether this means going out with your mates or taking up an interest that has been neglected – find what makes you happy and do it!

Be aware of their emotional health and well-being, not just physical health

When your ageing parent is living with you, it can be easy to overlook the emotional health of your loved one. However, it is important to not only focus on their physical health but also on their emotional well-being.

Emotional health issues can range from depression and anxiety to trouble sleeping and changes in appetite. If you notice that your ageing parent isn’t acting as they usually do or has reduced energy levels, it may be time for a conversation about their mental well-being.

If you’re concerned about how best to talk about this with them, try asking them how they are feeling rather than making assumptions about why their mood has changed or what’s going on inside their head. Be open and honest with them; if something is bothering them then let them know that it’s okay for them to tell someone (you) what’s up so that they don’t feel alone in whatever situation they are facing.

Being a caregiver is hard work.

Being a caregiver is hard work. It can also be draining, physically and mentally. Taking care of someone who requires constant attention, even though that person is usually happy to see you, can leave you feeling tired and frustrated.

But it’s important to keep your health and well-being top of mind while taking care of your loved one. If you don’t take time for yourself, it can become harder to do things like get out of bed in the morning or even care for yourself at all. Your health is still an important part of the equation—your body needs time to recover from any physical injuries or illnesses that may have occurred during the day’s activities, which may include lifting heavy objects (for example), moving around furniture and cleaning up messes made by your loved one who has dementia or has lost control over his/her bladder or bowels (also known as incontinence).

You should also allow yourself guilt-free moments where all you want to do is chill out on Netflix with a glass of wine in hand; take long walks; go out with friends; visit museums; read books–the list goes on! These things recharge us so that we can continue reading this sentence without getting distracted by thoughts about needing some fresh air–and then being unable to focus again because now bees are buzzing around our heads!

Conclusion

We hope that these tips have helped you understand the needs of your ageing parents. Being a caregiver is hard work, but with the right support and information, you can make it easier for yourself and them.