Blog: Elderly Parents

Making the Most of Time With Your Elderly Parents​

From a quite young age, children learn that people get older, and from that moment on the knowledge is embedded in your psyche. Unless you develop an unhealthy obsession with thoughts of aging, it’s a concept that sits in the back of your mind and only comes to the forefront when you see a picture of your teen idol and feel shocked at how old they look now, or notice a change in someone in your life that highlights the fact they’re getting old.
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Meanwhile, as you’ve been growing up, your parents are several decades ahead of you and are starting to grow noticeably older, which may be something that worries you. When you’re young, you don’t want to grow old, but there’s much to be enjoyed and celebrated about the later years. There’s the freedom that comes with seeing your children grown and living their lives, the pleasures of grandchildren, and hopefully, a degree of financial security that ensures a comfortable retirement. 

Accepting the aging process

The one sure fact of life is that everything gets older, and worrying about it does no one any good. The only way to reduce your fears about your parents reaching their later years is to make the most of them, spend time with them, and appreciate their presence in your life. It’s like watching a child grow up; there’s part of you that would love to keep them young and innocent forever, but it’s not possible. However, although things will change, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a negative change; for many people, their later years are some of the best of their lives.

Looking after your parents

If your parents need some help as they age, naturally you’ll do what you can to support them, but it’s not always possible to provide for all their needs. One solution is to take on a qualified, experienced caregiver from an agency like InHomeCare, who can provide as much in-home care as your parents need so they can continue to live in the home they love. Staying at home for as long as possible is known to be beneficial for older people, and it’s usually an arrangement that feels more comfortable for you as their child. 

Spending time together

Making the most of your time with your parents is the best way to come to terms with their aging, so make a habit of popping in to see them when you can, giving them a call, or if they’re internet-savvy, spending time chatting via video link. If you have children of your own, your parents are bound to love seeing them too, and seeing their grandchildren – and great-grandchildren if they have them - can be a huge boost for grandparents. This should be a period in which you celebrate life and are grateful for the time you have together, so hug them, ask them questions about their lives that you’ve always been curious about, and tell them you love them.

Your parents could well be around for a good few years yet, but time can pass surprisingly quickly, so don’t waste the chance to get close to your folks in their later years.