Currently, the active or working population faces several simultaneous challenges. Beyond meeting the daily demands of professional life, they constantly deal with numerous requests and needs that require attention. There is also a group of individuals who work while providing support not only to their parents but also to their grandchildren. Additionally, not all companies demonstrate understanding regarding absences resulting from caring for elderly parents, often requiring employees to use vacation days to provide the necessary support.
The Demands of Eldercare
Indeed, even when parents maintain significant autonomy and live in their own homes, they often require assistance with numerous tasks. These include grocery shopping, managing legal matters (e.g., property taxes, income tax), transportation to medical appointments or treatments, and help with household management. The tasks are numerous and varied, making it essential to stay organized to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Suggestions for Working Individuals Supporting Elderly Parents:
• Communicate with immediate family members to distribute tasks fairly. Grocery shopping and accompanying parents to medical appointments are the most frequent and time-consuming responsibilities. It is advisable for family members to alternate these tasks to avoid overwhelming any single person.
• Explore time-saving alternatives. For example, combine your own grocery trips with your parents’ shopping, or consider ordering groceries online. Elderly individuals often have very specific and unique preferences regarding the products they consume (they generally dislike change), so acquiring all desired items online might not be successful on the first attempt. However, persistence is encouraged, as this will ultimately save you time.
• Keep an updated calendar with all tasks related to your parents and review it regularly. If caregiving responsibilities are shared among family members, share this schedule with them, clearly assigning responsibility for each task. Always consider vacation periods and absences to ensure nothing is overlooked and to prevent unexpected complications due to forgetfulness or lack of communication.
• If outings with your parents become challenging (e.g., difficulty parking near a clinic when your elderly parent has mobility issues), consider enlisting the help of another person during these trips or, alternatively, use a taxi or ride-sharing service.
• Monitor your parents’ health closely and adopt a preventive approach. If your parents exhibit persistent symptoms over several days, consult a physician. Postponing or ignoring signs of discomfort can lead to sudden, avoidable emergency room visits.
• Be mentally prepared for emergencies resulting from falls or other sudden health issues. As individuals age, emergency room visits become more frequent. Should such an event occur and the waiting time be extensive, take turns with another family member to support your parent during the medical emergency. This ensures continuous care while reducing individual strain.
• If you are going through a particularly sensitive period or feel that the care you need to provide exceeds your available time, speak with other family members. They can temporarily redistribute tasks or collaborate to find a practical solution.
When Family Support is Limited
However, not all elderly individuals receive support from multiple family members. Frequently, one person is solely responsible for organizing and overseeing everything. For these individuals, KindCare offers an excellent solution by providing comprehensive assistance to elderly people, including organizing and scheduling outings and other activities. Please contact us for more information.