How To Keep Parents Safe A Home On A Budget
Falls in the home are a great concern of many adult children who have aging parents who are still living in their own homes. Many adult children have limited incomes, and are even struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. They work during the day and they are usually rushed and tired by the time they check in on parents who are home alone.
Many of these aging parents are doing fairly well. Nothing is perfect but they have figured out a system that is working —for now. Many adult children have some guilt about not being able to do more, and many don’t know what to do. It’s a lot to think about.
If this is your story, you are not alone. There are many working adult children who are helping to care for their aging parents in America — there are over 53 million Americans providing unpaid care for relatives and friends. Limited financial means is a big struggle for many of these caregiving families. Caregivers erroneously think that expensive changes are always needed in order to allow aging parents to remain safe in their home. This is not always true, there are some initial small changes that can prolong the stay and prevent injury.
How To Keep Parents Safe At Home
Be proactive. Be watchful to identify specific areas of concern.
Listen to your loved one. What are their concerns?
Make changes before injuries occur.
Seek professional advise. Occupational Therapist can provide recommendations on equipment and small changes that can be made in the home. Grab bars, furniture placement, safety equipment, removal of tripping hazard, changing lighting, and adding in video and audio alert systems are a few of the changes that are inexpensive.
Making small changes now can prevent the need for making huge expensive changes later.
Consuela Marshall, Occupational Therapist, Caregiver
Listen to the Caregiver’s Finding A Foothold Episode 28: How To Keep Mom Safe At Home, On A Budget. The podcast is available on the FindingAFoothold.com website and on all major podcast streaming sites.
Visit the FindingAFoothold.com. Call the call-in line to tell your caregiving challenge and receive a free response to your struggle on an upcoming podcast show. The call in button is located on the website.
Visit the consult page of the website, find out how to schedule a free 15 minute consult to discuss in more depth your caregiving challenge and receive help developing a caregiving plan specific for your needs.
Subscribe to the podcast. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram.
Disclaimer: The podcast and blog are intended to provide basic information so that you can become a more informed caregiver. The information presented is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not meant to serve as medical advice or replace consultation with any health care providers you regularly engage with. Transmission or receipt of any of this information is not intended to, and does not, create a therapist-patient relationship. This information is not provided in the course of a therapist-patient relationship and is not intended to constitute medical advice or to substitute for obtaining medical advice from a physician or therapist licensed in the state where your family may reside. We encourage everyone to consult with your physician or therapist to see if they are appropriate and safe for you.