The elderly relatives in your life are most likely a source of joy and love. It’s for this reason that you want to make sure they are properly taken care of as they get older. Certain things need to be considered that you probably haven’t thought about.
Here are just a few examples of what you may need to think about if you have elderly relatives.
- Is Their Home Suitable?
A lot of older people live in their own homes permanently and never have to go into assisted living. While this is a perfectly fine option for them if they are capable, you must think about their house being suitable as they age.
They might be okay getting up the stairs for now, but will that change in a few years? Should you move their bed downstairs or install a stairlift?
Just one potential issue can throw up a lot of questions so it’s vital that you speak to your loved one about this and put plans into place to get the home as suitable as possible.
- How Are Their Finances?
Few people like to talk about money, and this doesn’t change just because you’ve gotten older. Couple this with the fact that older generations have a very different idea of how to deal with money than younger people do, and you have some potential issues.
Do they have enough money to live on if they are around for much longer than they thought? Can they afford to go into assisted living eventually if needs be? These are just a few things to consider.
Thankfully, there are things like senior living financial planning that can be a big help.
- When Was the Last Time They Saw a Doctor?
Not all old people have health issues but, just like anyone else, your older relatives should be visiting the doctor regularly for check-ups to prevent anything avoidable happening. Health issues often hit older people much harder, so making sure they are seeing the doctor when they need it is crucial.
If they are on any medication, checking that they are up to date with their prescriptions can be a big help.
- What Are Their Plans for the Future?
No one can predict the future and the concept of it becomes even more vague the older you get. However, if you can get a rough idea of what your elderly relatives want in years to come, it can help you to help them make that a reality when that time comes.
If they are considerably old, talking about funerals may also be important. While it may be a difficult conversation to have, you’ll likely be glad you had it when they do pass away.
Older relatives are valued members of the family, but it can be hard to know how to help them if they need it. Asking yourself these four questions is a great place to start.