Aging Parents Checklist: A Guide for Families in Fuquay-Varina
A remarkably high number of Americans (around 1 in 3) face the demands of caring for an ill or aging loved one. While caregiving may be an act of love, it also comes with a heavy price and can take its toll on your emotional well-being, especially if you are juggling the role with bringing up children.
If you are worried about how you will care for aging parents in Fuquay-Varina, NC, get proactive and start planning early. Use this aging parents checklist to help you create a long-term plan that works for everyone.
Arrange a Conversation About Senior Care Planning
Age-related problems can creep up on you and your parent, so never delay the task of having that initial conversation about care. It may feel a little awkward or uncomfortable, but the sooner you do it, the more time you'll have to plan the best support for your parents.
Leaving things too late can create a sense of urgency and panic. It makes decision-making harder, and you're more likely to make poor choices.
Choose a calm moment and a neutral location to chat. When broaching the topic, be empathetic and speak about some of the advantages of a proper care plan for your parents. Focus on any concerns you have and what future support might look like for them.
Family Caregiving Tips: Review Your Parents' Health Needs
Your aging parent might find their health is changing, or they may find they have more limited mobility than in the past. When you've had that initial conversation about a care plan, your next step is to get into more detail and establish your loved one's current health and mobility needs.
First, look at their daily routine for signs that extra assistance is needed. Here are some checks you can carry out:
- Can your parent walk up and down the stairs unaided?
- Can your parent bathe independently and safely?
- Can your parent prepare hot meals without help?
Next, examine all health conditions, including chronic ones and any long-term medication. You should also make a note of any potential mental health issues, like forgetfulness or low mood.
After that, schedule a more formal check-up with their primary healthcare provider. A professional can complete a more thorough examination of their abilities and what help they might need now and in the future.
Review Legal and Other Official Documents
When planning your parents' future care needs, you'll reach a point where you'll face a lot of paperwork. You can make life easier for everyone by getting this information together in advance.
Speak to your parents to gather into one file:
- Legal documents such as wills and powers of attorney
- Financial documents like insurance coverage
- Medical information like health records and prescriptions
Keep the file secure, and ensure you hold a password-protected digital copy. Make sure the file includes other relevant information that's often requested by third parties, like contact details. Having all this information in one place can make life easier when you have an emergency, too.
Review Long-Term Fuquay-Varina Elder Support Options
Your next step is to look at long-term care options for your parents. You'll see two options in our senior living community at TerraBella Fuquay-Varina: assisted living and memory care.
Assisted living is for those who need extra help with their daily routine, such as getting dressed, bathing, and medication management. Nevertheless, they maintain their independence within a senior living community environment.
Memory care is more specialized and involved. It's for residents who have a diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer's, or a similar cognitive condition. This care will be tailored to the needs of the resident, depending on their stage of the disease.
Tour Senior Living Communities
Visiting senior living communities in person is the best way for parents to visualize the new lifestyle they will lead.
Help your parents arrange the visits and attend alongside them, armed with questions to ask the staff about the community and amenities.
This is also the right time to talk to the senior living team about assisted living guidance and care options, discuss health and mobility requirements, and get some pricing so that you can compare different communities and make a final decision.
Optional: Review Home Safety
There may be a gap between choosing a senior living community and moving in.
If you are concerned about your parents' safety at home during that time, audit their property and add extra safety features. For example, an emergency call alarm could alert you to a fall. A stair lift could be a sensible addition if there are mobility issues.
Support the Transition to Senior Living
Once you have a move-in date for your parents' new senior living community, it's time to begin packing. Assist your parents with the move by helping to sort belongings into:
- Items to take
- Items to store or leave with family
- Items to sell or donate to charity
You may also need to provide some emotional support during this phase. Going through old belongings and saying goodbye to a family home can be difficult and upsetting.
Help your loved ones create a familiar layout and interior for their new apartment, so that it feels more like home when they move.
Parent Transition Checklist: Create a Plan for Ongoing Support
Once your parents are settled in their new community, it's a good opportunity to schedule visits, family reunions, and other ways you can provide emotional and practical support.
That might be assisting with errands or helping to handle the finances. Stay involved and speak to the care team to ensure they understand your parents' needs and preferences and to help tailor their care plan.
If you have long-distance relatives, help your parents set up video call technology for them in their new apartment, so that they can stay in touch.
An Aging Parents Checklist for Families in Fuquay Varina, NC
Getting your parents the best care in their senior years means planning early, as it will give you more time to make key decisions. Use this aging parents checklist to help.
If you want a community with expert caregivers, beautiful outdoor spaces, and on-site wellness programs, look no further than TerraBella Fuquay-Varina, NC. Ready to learn more? Contact us and book a tour for your parents today.