Getting Help Caring For Elderly Parents During The Pandemic
Although COVID-19 was a threat to everyone, people over 50 were at the most significant risk. Their weakened immune system and pre-existing medical conditions increased their chances of suffering more adverse symptoms or passing away. As a result, medical experts and government officials strongly advised that the elderly shelter in place until a resolution was discovered. For adult children and senior citizens’ relatives, ensuring their loved ones’ well-being rose to new heights.
While some seniors lived independently, nursing home residents ended up leaving the facility due to coronavirus outbreaks and a shortage of staff. Adult children had to step up to the plate and become caregivers seemingly overnight. This adjustment caused physical, mental, and financial strain on adult children. If you’re among this group, you may be wondering what you can do to make things easier. Continue reading for advice.
Apply For Financial Assistance
When your elderly parents moved into your household, your expenses automatically increased. Although you may not have qualified for government assistance before, the additional family member could change things. You can receive help with everything from your rent to your groceries to ease the financial strain.
Programs For Seniors
Assistance for the elderly community doesn’t stop there. Look into the state, federal, and private programs for help with other needs and services. There are free transportation services to get seniors to their medical appointments. Programs like Meals on Wheels will deliver free meals to older adults. Finally, search for prescription assistance programs that will help reduce the cost of medications for seniors.
Home Health Aides
It’s challenging to prioritize your elderly parent’s needs when you have a full house and tons of responsibilities. Instead of trying to take it all on yourself, you could look into hiring a home health aide. These professionals offer assistance with everything from bathing and getting dressed to administering medications and monitoring vitals. You can visit using a home health aide New York or any other city on a full or part-time basis to lighten your load.
Telehealth Services
Maintaining doctor’s appointments is essential for senior citizens – especially if they have health problems. However, visiting healthcare facilities during the pandemic puts them at risk. Ultimately, the best way to resolve this problem is to schedule telehealth appointments for your elderly parents. They can visit their doctor virtually to discuss their health and address any questions or concerns. The doctor can complete a wellness check and prescribe medications when necessary. If your parent doesn’t like the idea of a virtual doctor, don’t fret. You can always get a concierge doctor to bring your parents’ appointments to their home. House call doctors can provide all the same care as primary care physicians so you aren’t compromising the quality of care.
Home Cleaning Professionals
You have to be extra cautious with senior citizens in your home during the pandemic. As their immune systems are much weaker, it’s easier for them to contract the virus. Although you likely clean and sanitize your house regularly, trying to keep up with all the bacteria and germs is challenging. You can ease your fears and maintain a safe and decent environment for your parents to hire a professional cleaning company. They can come weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly to sanitize your home from top to bottom.
Other Relatives
Though children are often the ones to step up when their aging parents need assistance, you have an entire family that can help. If you’re having trouble taking on all this responsibility alone, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone. They can assist with prepping meals, taking them to appointments, or watch your kids so you can take a break. Either way, it reduces your stress and enables you to prioritize your health and wellness and other obligations like your kids or career.
Caring for elderly parents is a hard adjustment for most adult children. When you add a global pandemic to the mix, the stress increases exponentially. As much as you want to be there for your parents, there’s nothing wrong with admitting that you need help. You can turn to the resources listed above to get financial assistance or professional services that can take the load off your back.
