Taking care of a senior parent can be very stressful, but elder care can help relieve some of the day-to-day stress of keeping your parent safe. If your parent is living alone, that puts a lot of stress on family caregivers to help with household chores, shopping, and other tasks.
If your parent has a chronic medical condition, doesn’t drive anymore, or has a hard time getting out of the house, you also may be responsible for doing their shopping and errands. That can be difficult to do when you are working, taking care of your kids, and trying to keep up with other responsibilities.
Elder care can help with the day-to-day care your senior parent needs. An elder care provider can visit your parent daily to help them with things like making meals and keeping the house tidy. An elder care provider can even help with transportation to medical appointments and running errands so that your parent can be more independent.
Elder care also provides the regular daily socialization that your parent needs to be healthy. If you can’t stop over at your parent’s house more than once or twice each week, elder care is a great way to bridge the gap and make sure your parent is getting the support they need.
How Elder Care Can Help
Elder care is available around the clock, so even if your parent needs support at night, there are care providers who can be there for them.
Elder care can help relieve stress for you and your parent by doing tasks like:
Grocery Shopping and Putting Everything Away
Keeping the refrigerator and pantry stocked requires time, planning, and several trips to the grocery store each month.
Instead of fitting another shopping trip into your schedule, an elder care provider can create a grocery list with your senior parent, shop for fresh food and household essentials, and bring everything home.
They can also put groceries away, organize the refrigerator and pantry, and make sure frequently used items are easy for your parent to reach. This helps your parent maintain a well-stocked kitchen without you having to squeeze grocery shopping into your already busy week.
Preparing Meals and Healthy Snacks
Cooking nutritious meals every day can become difficult for many older adults, and preparing meals for your parent several times a week can quickly become another responsibility on your plate.
An elder care provider can prepare balanced breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and healthy snacks that match your parent’s preferences and dietary needs. They can also prepare several meals at once and place them into individual containers that are ready to heat and eat later.
Healthy snacks like yogurt, sliced fruit, pre-cut cheese, or vegetables can also be portioned into convenient containers so your parent has nutritious options available throughout the day.
Taking Care of Light Housekeeping
Household chores never stop, and many family caregivers spend every visit cleaning instead of visiting. An elder care provider can perform light housekeeping that helps keep your parent’s home clean, comfortable, and safe.
They can dust furniture, vacuum carpets, sweep and mop floors, wipe down kitchen counters, wash dishes, and tidy commonly used rooms. Keeping clutter under control also helps reduce trip hazards, making the home easier to navigate.
Doing Laundry and Changing Bed Linens
Laundry is another household task that can become physically demanding for older adults. Carrying heavy baskets, reaching into washing machines, folding clothing, and changing bed sheets all require time and effort.
An elder care provider can wash, dry, fold, and put away clothing while also changing bed linens and making the bed.
Fresh clothes and clean sheets help your parent stay comfortable while removing another recurring chore from your weekly schedule. Instead of spending your weekend catching up on laundry, you’ll know your parent’s household routines are already being taken care of.
Running Errands and Picking Up Prescriptions
Rather than leaving work early or spending your day off running errands, an elder care provider can help with many everyday tasks. They can pick up prescriptions, stop by the post office, purchase household supplies, or complete other routine errands that help your parent’s week run smoothly.
Having someone available to handle these responsibilities means fewer last-minute phone calls asking for help and less pressure on your own schedule.
If you or someone you know needs Elder Care in Hutchinson, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 525-7742 for more information.