“Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Beauty doth varnish age, as if new-born,
And gives the crutch the cradle’s infancy.”
-Shakespeare
This speech compares the world to a stage and life to a play, and catalogs the seven stages of a man’s life, sometimes referred to as the Seven Ages of Man: infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, pantaloons and old age, facing imminent death. It is one of Shakespeare’s most frequently quoted passages.
Amid our busy routines, we forget our loved ones, especially aging parents. Throughout their lives, they struggled to help us grow, pay our bills, drive us around the world, and do everything for us that we can’t or won’t do. Getting the chance to become their caregivers when they are old is a blessing in this world. Undoubtedly taking care of your parents will give you a lot of satisfaction and memories which you can cherish once they leave this world.
Financial support
Parents work hard to win bread for their kids. They try to facilitate this in every possible way. Even if they don’t need financial assistance, make it a habit to ask them if they need help. Your gesture is of more value to them than your money.
Emotional support
Paying utility bills and taking off your parent’s expenditures is a good step, but taking care of their emotional state can help you in becoming a better caregiver. Encourage your parents to have a straight conversation session related to their fears about aging, living independently, or what they need. Get their opinion regarding additional help if it becomes necessary. Mostly aging parents love to relive their old days by sharing their stories and experiences, listen to them carefully with patience, and show your interest. Don’t wait for the time when they will be unable to communicate effectively.
Small Gestures
In their retirement period, parents have nothing much to do. They wait for your return, so try to please them or surprise them. It won’t cost you much in terms of time and money, but it means the world to them. You can surprise them by presenting small gifts, flowers, or their favorite sweets.
Be respectable
It is tough to see your parents declining health and emotional capacity, but you can add happiness by making them realize their importance in your life. Be patient, listen to them carefully, and help them to cope with their declining health. It will be of great value to them.
Encourage them to socialize
Try to convince your parents to socialize with their age group more. People in old age don’t want to socialize, and for this, you have to put your efforts by taking them to the park for a walk, dropping them off at an old friend’s place, or taking them to their favorite restaurant or café.
Cognitive abilities and behavioral changes
Many times, the first indication that at-home caregivers may be necessary is a parent’s inability to make the right decisions. Cognitive skills, such as the ones needed to plan, organize and cause decisions to deteriorate more quickly than memories. According to Psychologists, in older age, people face mood swings and significant behavioral changes because of the age factor or due to health issues. To cope with such changes, caregivers have to be more determined and patient. If you feel like you are overwhelmed at any point, call for professional help and look online about caregiving.com. Therefore, you have to show immense patience when dealing with such behavior and look forward to long-term satisfaction.
