It is a strange shift when parents move into their older stages of life and the balance of who looks after who changes. Adults – who were once the children, and for years relied on our parents to look after them and to make all the decisions – can now find ourselves the ones to do the caring. Parents might be physically infirm or unwell, need help making sense of decisions, or just be unsure about technology and the way things work in the modern world.
For those parents who have often given us so much, it is instinctive that their grown-up sons or daughters want to help, but as they are still adults used to their independence, it is not always easy to manage the change in roles.
Here at Home Lift Experts we find many of customers are adult children, looking to help their parents in practical and thoughtful ways. We take a look at some of the ways it is possible to show parents how much they are still cared about as they grow older, while maintaining the balance of the child-parent relationship.
Stay in touch
One of the simplest things we can do for our parents is by being there. Whether it is popping in to see them a few times a week, or a daily phone call, keeping in regular contact with older parents will and keep you all connected, and give them more of a boost.
Grandparent time
It is well known that grandchildren hold a special place in their grandparents’ hearts, and the gift we can give our parents is to encourage our children to spend time with them. This relationship can sometimes become more distant as children enter teenage years, but by arranging special time for them to get together grandparents and their grandchildren can keep their bond strong. Often the grandchild-grandparent bond is strong as it does not have the added pressure that comes with parental responsibilities. Grandparents can share their wisdom, and the children can help to keep them young at heart.
Foster independence
Older people often find that the hardest thing about a loss of mobility is the loss of independence that comes with it. The transition from being capable in the home, and being in charge of their own lives, to relying on others to get about can take its toll on the mental health. Even when the carers are their own adult children, not being self-reliant can be hard to adjust to. Therefore, one of the greatest ways to show your parents you care is to help make adjustments to their home to give them as much freedom and independence as possible. Sometimes parents can be resistant to such changes, as grab handles and ramps are not always in keeping with the home’s décor and may also be seen to symbolise a decline in mobility. The good news is that aesthetically designed mobility devices are now available specifically for this reason.
Home lifts
One of the greatest additions to the home an adult child can buy to help older parents with accessibility is a home lift. Unlike an awkward and unsightly stairlift, a domestic lift fits neatly and discreetly into almost any location in the home, and many of the domestic lifts on the market have been designed to be an elegant and attractive addition to the home. An domestic lift for the home brings the ultimate independence for older people, as it removes worries about falls on the stairs, and with every possible safety feature built in, all floors of the house become available at the touch of a button.
Home Lift Experts advise on a range of elevators on the market, including Stiltz home lifts which have a surprisingly small footprint yet can carry a wheelchair, the stylish and discreet Lifton home lift, or the Scandinavian designed Aritco lift packed with artistic features. Whatever the priorities are for you and your parents, the experienced professionals at Home Lift Experts can help find the perfect home lift.
Take time
Time is short in busy modern life, especially for those with growing children, jobs, and homes to run. But for older parents, days can often seem long without interruptions. Show your parents you care by finding out how they want to spend their time. Do they belong to social clubs that they struggle to get to, or have they got an interest they are finding it difficult to keep up? Think of the ways you can support them, to have a full and rich life. Schedule in good quality time with them doing activities you both enjoy, or make the most of special events you can go to together, making memories and special times for you all.
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