As people get older, they become less mobile and lose some of their independence, often requiring support from carers or relatives. The need for support can sometimes be sudden, for example, after a fall or due to an illness, or a parent may gradually start to need increasing amounts of support.
Either of these situations can be difficult to adjust to, especially as there is a role reversal of you caring for your parents rather than them looking after you, the way the relationship has been throughout your life. Caring for elderly people can be very demanding, so it is important that you make life as easy as possible for yourself.
Here are some tips to help you to support your parents, while taking care of yourself too:
Support services
There are lots of different types of support available, from financial support for carers, to grants and other sources of funding for mobility equipment. Charities such as Age UK can help provide support and they also offer services such as day centres and befriending services that can provide more support to elderly people.
If your parent is starting to lose mobility, then it is a good idea to arrange for home assessment from an occupational therapist through the NHS. As well as being able to provide mobility advice, the occupational therapist should be able to encourage the use of equipment that will help elderly people to stay independent for longer.
The home assessment is free of charge and the local council should cover the cost recommendations such as home adaptations and equipment, provided that the equipment costs less than £1,000 per item.
The following adaptions are included:
- Handrails for stairs and steps
- Grab rails for the bathroom
- A walking frame
- Perching stools for shower
- An intercom for answering the door
Charities that can provide support
There are many different charities in the UK that offer some support to elderly people. In addition to Age UK, there are charities such as the Alzheimer’s Society and Stroke Association that can help people affected by those health issues. There may be some local charities near to you that arrange social events for the elderly.
As people get older, losing independence can be upsetting, so helping them to live in their own home for longer may be a top priority to them. As well as getting their home fitted with equipment such as rails on the stairs and a stool in the shower, a riser recliner chair will also provide physical support.
A riser recliner chair helps people to sit down and stand up out of their chair with an easy-to-use hand control. Riser recliner chairs are also ideal for providing a comfortable place to nap, rather than needing to get up and walk to the bedroom. People with certain medical conditions may be able to apply for funding to pay for a riser recliner.
Morris Living has a range of different riser recliner models, so if you are looking for the best ways to support your elderly parent, order a riser recliner to provide some extra comfort and mobility support.
