What Can You Do to Help Your Parent Do More For Themselves in the Bedroom?
August 12, 2016
Senior Care in Fox Chapel PA
Encouraging your parent to do as many things for themselves as possible throughout their later years is one of the most important ways that you can help them to stay strong, healthy, motivated, and active. One of the rooms where this can be helpful is in the bedroom. While it may seem as though this is a room where your parent does not spend much time, between getting into and out of bed, dressing, and convalescing, this can actually be one of the most used spaces of the home.
Some things that you can do to help your parent do more for themselves in the bedroom include:
- Lower the bed. Climbing into and out of bed might not seem like a challenge to you, but it can be extremely difficult for a senior who is dealing with mobility problems, balance issues, or the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Check their bed to determine if you can lower it closer to the ground. This can help to make it easier for them to get in and out, but can also help to prevent serious injuries in the event that they fall out of the bed.
- Simplify their wardrobe. Getting dressed can be confusing and challenging for a senior who is dealing with cognitive limitations and challenges. Simplify this process and encourage them to choose their own clothing by replacing clothes with features such as buttons, zippers, and ties with those that your loved one only has to pull on. This can also be extremely helpful for a senior who is dealing with reduced fine motor skills such as may be caused by pain and stiffness associated with arthritis.
- Streamline their wardrobe. Take helping your parent handle their dressing task on their own to another level by streamlining the design of their clothing. Rather than having many different patterns and colors that may not go together and could confuse your parent, choose clothing that is easy to mix and match. Basic colors of pants, skirts, or shorts such as black, khaki, and denim, and then shirts and tops that complement all of them simplify the process of your parent choosing an outfit that will go together without complication. Reserve any patterns or bold colors to complete outfits such as track suits, sweat suits, or dresses.
If your parent is coping with increased challenges and limitations that are making it more difficult for them to handle their daily tasks, it may be time for you to consider senior care. Hiring a senior home care services provider for your aging parent is a way for you to help your loved one maintain as much of their independence and sense of autonomy and control as possible as they age in place. Through a personalized approach to care and assistance, this senior home care services provider can help your parent to continue living the lifestyle that they desire and deserve while being there for them to offer support tailored to their specific needs, challenges, preferences, and goals.