An effective approach to providing care for your parents is assessing where they currently stand and their current level of functioning. This will allow you to determine what kind of support is necessary and when to bring in professional services to address safety or health concerns. It will also enable you to create a realistic caregiving plan which includes your responsibilities as well as how and where to find assistance.
Eating well is vitally important to the well-being of your parents. Make sure they include a variety of nutritious foods in their diet such as vegetables and fruits, whole grains, dairy, beans, nuts and seeds to avoid dehydration. Food labels on packaged items can be helpful when identifying calories, fat and sodium content; an iron rich diet featuring foods rich in soluble fiber such as vegetables fruits legumes can be particularly effective against constipation as well as provide vital iron sources.
Depression is an all too familiar problem among seniors and can have devastating repercussions for both their physical and mental wellbeing. Depression may exacerbate symptoms from other diseases while increasing heart attack risk; additionally it can result in social isolation that has even further adverse impacts on health.
If you suspect mental illness in an elderly relative, it’s essential that they visit their physician and learn the legal basics (signs of incapacity and powers of attorney). You should also try finding online and community resources which provide mental health assistance.