This is a sponsored guest post.

As a responsible child, you probably want to make sure your parents are safe. However, with AARP suggesting that as many as 87% of parents over 65 years want to age in their current home and community, it means that you may be restricted to doing what you can from a distance. This is particularly true if you stay far away in another city or state or maybe in another community entirely. There are a host of other modifications to consider to improve the senior’s safety in the bathroom, kitchen, and around the home.

No matter how far away you are, here are seven ways you can render help to your elderly parents: 

1. First, house safety

Addressing safety concerns should be your first point of call. Research suggests that people over age 65 are at a higher risk of falls, burning themselves and poisoning. Put plans in place to forestall or reduce the chances of any of this occurring. You can effect little changes in the homes like installing grab bars, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, busying anti-scald detectors, using non-skid mats etc. Also, ensure there is a phone in place with which immediate calls for help can be made.

2. Plan for emergencies

Nobody wants one but from time to time, everybody gets one in one form or the other. Plan in advance for any such emergency by ensuring there is a way they can call out for help, and someone close-by they can call out to. Ensure there is a ready emergency kit available to your parents for their use and also make arrangements with someone who can stand in for you until you arrive. 

3. Stay in touch

Seniors are prone to fall into depression due to loneliness and social isolation. Do what you can to get in touch often and stay in touch. Teaching your elderly parents to use social media and then keeping in touch that way can be a good way to bridge the distance. You can also encourage them to stay in touch with others around them by volunteering, joining religious communities and relating with the neighbours.

4. Monitor activity level

The tendency for seniors is to want to reduce activities as they age. Using an activity calendar to keep track of daily activities can be a good way to ensure your elderly parents stay active for longer. This is particularly important because physical activity will help them to maintain optimal physical health, and have a positive effect on their mental health also.

5. Discuss care options

The dynamics of care are bound to change as your parent’s age so you should discuss well in advance what the next step should be. Find out your parent’s preferences, weigh costs and also make your stance known. Options could include having a caregiver come in to attend to them, an adult day care center, an assisted living community etc. 

6. Set up delivery services

Mobility often becomes compromised with ageing so it won’t be as easy to move around for your parents to get what they need. Setting up deliveries can help them take care of their shopping and home needs. This will prove quite helpful.

7. Visit often

There are many things you may not find out over the phone. Scheduling physical visits with your elderly parents may be the best way to really find out how they are doing and observe firsthand how things are with their health. Having the grandchildren over too can help bring a lot of life and energy to an otherwise dull environment. 

Finally…

In all, there is much that you can still do to help your parents, even if you have to do it over a long distance. Don’t become unnecessarily anxious if you cannot move in with them or get them to move in with you.