If you want to make sure that your elderly parents have no issues with calling you whenever necessary, it is recommended that they use one of those many types of cordless phones for seniors. They are designed with the needs of seniors in mind, which means that they are very easy to use and they will definitely help your mom and dad stay in touch with you.
If you don’t live in the same house with your elderly parents it can be quite hard for you to keep an eye on them and to make sure that they stay safe and healthy. It can be very challenging, but it is not impossible as there are many ways to ensure their well-being even if you are far away from them.
Good home security
The first thing you can do to ensure your parents are protected against potential dangers is to install excellent security in their home. The best way to do this is to use surveillance cameras that allow you to monitor your senior’s house via a tablet, laptop, or smartphone. You have to pay attention to every single detail and ensure that there are enough cameras installed.
Thanks to the rapid growth of technology, video monitoring has become more and more popular because the price is now more accessible. This is a plus for us because we can now afford to take good care of our loved ones from afar. However, the cameras alone will not give you the much-needed peace of mind, and that is why it is better to put an alarm system on their home, too.
Now, you don’t have to worry that any unwanted visitors are entering your parents’ premises because the alarm will alert them right away. You don’t need to do much, you just have to make sure that your parents have home Wi-Fi as most home video monitoring cameras today require Wi-Fi in order to function properly.
Other than that, they are super easy to set up as they are sleek and small so you don’t have to stress yourself with finding someone to do it for you. There is a wide selection of cameras available on the market but the best ones are those that offer night vision, HD quality video, wide-view angles, and sound detection.
Besides letting you know if anything is happening thanks to the sound detection feature, some models even provide two-way audio which allows you to talk and listen. If you are willing to pay a little more you can opt for the video recording option that saves videos so that you can have access to them whenever you want to analyze certain situations in more detail.
Low-tech solutions
We have heard many people declaring themselves satisfied with many high-tech devices that they use to keep an eye on their parents’ health and safety. But, what about those options that have a more human touch; why not take those into account, too? Technology is of great help, but sometimes it might not be enough.
It is very important to stay in touch with your parents on a regular basis and you should also advise other members of the family to do the same thing. Furthermore, when you interact with them you should pay attention to certain signs which can tell you that your mom or dad might have cognitive issues.
Some studies show that about 1 to 3 percent of older adults develop dementia every year, and that is why it is recommended that you analyze your parents’ behavior very well. If you notice that they are more prone to certain dangers then you can change the way you care for them and you add more to your program.
Easy things like controlling the lights and temperature can be easily done by you through a smartphone which will allow you to prevent any unwanted situations from happening. Also, we know how dangerous it can be for your parents when it gets dark, and that is why you should install night-lights that will turn on and will prevent them from hurting themselves.
Another thing you can do is to put stickies on the light switches that will let your parents know which one is for which area. Also, if your parents’ sinks and tubs don’t have overflow, it is time you step in and you replace them with new ones that have overflows because you will reduce or even eliminate the risk of flooding.
A great sense of discretion
It is absolutely normal to be worried about your elderly loved ones, but this doesn’t mean that you can control their lives 100%. Even if your first instinct is to step in and help, you should always keep in mind that your parents still need to feel somewhat independent.
They don’t want to accept the fact that they have to rely on someone else for even the most basic needs. That is why you should offer them the space they need and when you decide to act, you have to do it in a very discreet way. Otherwise, your parents will not allow you to contribute to their safety and well-being – they will consider your actions as being invasive.
So, don’t just assume that your parents will understand that everything you do is for their own good. The way you care for them is extremely important, too, if you want to make sure that you keep a nice and close relationship with your mom and dad.
The most important thing is not to make your loved ones feel that they are a burden and that they cannot take proper care of themselves. No matter how old or how ill they are, they will still want to do certain things themselves.
We know that it can be extremely frustrating not to be able to check on an elderly parent every day, but if you check on them too often it can become annoying for them. It is perfectly fine to keep an eye on your elderly loved ones, but you have to do it in a way that they don’t feel as if they have lost all their independence.
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