It can be tough as your parents age. Knowing what to do to help them can be hard, especially when they really don’t want a whole lot of help. Many times elderly parents feel that they are being a burden to their children and this can cause a lot of resistance. This leads many children to just take the lead and take over, thinking that their parents can’t make decisions for themselves anymore. The danger is when this help turns into enabling and you see your parent decline because quite honestly they don’t have to do much anymore.
All of our home care services are specially tailored to meet your loved one’s needs—call us today at 240-283-4984 to find out how Advanced Nursing can help you throughout Maryland.
How Enabling Your Elderly Parent Is Bad for the Both of You
If you have an elderly parent that doesn’t need or want a whole lot of help, moving in and taking over can be dangerous. Instead of helping your parent by finding them a great place to live where they can have both independence and help when needed, we tend to just move in and take over.
When this happens, you may find that your elderly parent gives in and decides that maybe you doing everything is kind of nice. While this may seem like a good thing, it can actually lead to faster aging. It is once again like a child except in reverse, the parent realizes they don’t have to do anything and can get away with it and the child becomes frustrated yet is still constantly taking everything on.
Enabling is never good in any relationship, however it can be easy to take on that role with an elderly parent.
How to Help Your Elderly Parent
Instead of enabling your parent, you can offer help. Help may be visiting your parents to do a couple of chores, taking your parents out for lunch once a week or just being on the other end of the phone when your elderly parents need you.
Help can also include finding your parent a great assisted living situation, this way they can have their independence, have their own space, but also have the care they need as they need it.
If your parent wants to stay in their home, find an in-home caregiver so that you don’t always have to be the one that is there helping yet you know your parents are being taken care of.
Enabling can often be the easier choice, or what seems the easier choice when it comes to your parents, however helping is healthier for everyone. The best thing to do is take stock and recognize what your parents are still capable of and direct your energy towards having them still do these things for as long as they can.
Schedule a Free In-Home Assessment Today in Maryland
Let the caring staff at Advanced Nursing and Home Support help you take care of your elderly parent. If you have a loved one in Montgomery County, Maryland who would benefit from any of our home care services, contact us today to schedule a free assessment. We can discuss your needs and match your family member with a homecare professional that fits their unique personality, interests, and needs.
At Advanced Nursing, we offer in-home care services to senior citizens as well as loved ones who have been in catastrophic accidents or are disabled, and we can cater our services to suit your specific situation.
Contact us online or by phone at 240-283-4984 to schedule your in-home assessment in Maryland today!
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