How To Help Your Aging Relatives Live Independently

Arranging care for aging relatives can be a challenge. The cost of professional care can be high and there is growing lack of availability when it comes to state care. Meanwhile, taking on the role of carer yourself may not be possible if you have other commitments such as kids and a full time job and improves your lifestyle.

Even if you have the time/money to provide care, there’s then the issue of convincing aging relatives to accept this care. Many of our elder loved ones can be stubborn and may want to continue doing things for themselves. Forcing care upon them may not be ethical.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this. Using technology and home improvements such as grab bars and rollabout chairs, you can encourage elder loved ones to look after themselves more easily. Such technology could help your aging relatives to carry out day-to-day tasks without straining themselves or putting themselves in danger. This could help your loved ones preserve their sense of independence while giving you the peace of mind that your loved ones are not struggling. Here are just a few steps for helping aging relatives to live independently.

Teach your elderly relatives how to use the internet/smartphones

It’s possible that your aging relatives may already be savvy with digital technology. However, if they don’t use the internet or refuse to own a smartphone, it could be essential that you bring them up to speed.

Websites and apps could help your aging relatives to handle many tasks independently such as shopping for groceries online or keeping track of which pills to take (both of which are discussed more later on). Teaching elders how to use this technology requires patience on both sides. Take things slowly and offer help when setting up accounts such as email addresses and social media.  

Encourage them to take advantage of home deliveries

Being able to order groceries, household products and gifts online could be a huge convenience for those with mobility issues that struggle to do regular shopping. Introduce your elderly relatives to grocery store online shopping, as well as sites like Amazon.

There are also sites out there that you can order regular cooked meals from. If preparing meals is a struggle, this could be something to consider. Such a service may be preferential to having a carer come around to cook a meal.

Help them make improvements to their home

Certain home improvements could make living independently easier. If your loved one’s home has stairs and they find these difficult to climb, it may be necessary to install a stairlift. A walk-in shower could also be handy in a bathroom for washing, while grab bars and ramps could be worth installing in certain places.

There are lots of companies that specialise in these home upgrades. Encourage your loved one to look into these companies and get quotes. Getting these improvements could allow your aging relative to stay in their home, rather than potentially having to move to a new disability-friendly home in the future.

Set alarms for them and embrace automation

Using alarms and automated technology, you may be able to help your elderly relatives carry out many routine tasks. Smart technology such as smart heating/cooling could allow your elderly relatives to regulate the temperature remotely and set timers from their phone rather than having to manually use the thermostat. A medication machine meanwhile may be able to dispense the right pills at the right times of day – this could be combined with smartphone alerts that let your relative know when to take medication. Alarms could be particularly useful for those with early onset dementia, whether it’s reminders to take medicine or take food out the oven.  

Implementing smart technology such as smart heating or smart lighting into your home will likely require hiring experts. The likes of medication machines are likely to be easier to buy and set up.

Help them to stay social

Mobility issues in older age can make it difficult to socialise. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to stay connected without relying on carers to help you. Social media sites like Facebook are great for connecting with friends and family, while videocall platforms like Skype can allow you to have face-to-face conversations remotely. Consider introducing your relatives to these platforms so that they can socialise from home.

There are also clubs that run organised monthly coach trips allowing elderly people to meet new people and travel to new places. Many of these cater to those with mobility issues and may even be able to collect your loved ones from their home. This could be great for getting out of the house without having to rely on a carer.

Help them to find the right funding options

Embracing the technology and services that are out there may come at a cost. Fortunately, there are federal loans and grants out there for senior citizens on a low income – these may help to cover things like home improvements. Help your senior loved ones to research into these options.

Understand the limits of independent living

There may come a point in which your elderly loved ones’ condition becomes so serious that in-person care is necessary. For instance, if your loved one can no longer dress themselves or is becoming increasingly forgetful of basic tasks such as having food, they may no longer be able to live independently.

That isn’t to say that they need full-time care – they may simply need a carer to come in during the morning and evening. This still gives them some independence.