Helping People Move Forward with Their Lives.
doctor or nurse after the appointment, most
will take the minute to get back with you.
This holiday season, keep in mind that
routine is extremely important as we age. As
excited as our parents may be to see us during
the holidays, being off their regular routine
can really throw them off, both mentally and
physically. Allow your parent the comfort to
take a nap, or to cut the evening short.
Show your parent respect, but at the same
time, it’s okay to let them know that you are
worried about them and how that affects you.
You may have to be firm and show some tough
love. Some find that parents are as scared as
you are about what they are experiencing.
Sometimes a parent is actually waiting for an
adult child to start making tough decisions for
them.
There may be fear, and there is often denial,
and that can happen to us as adult children
or to our parents as they age. Parents are
trying to maintain a sense of independence
and insist they can do all of the things they
used to. If you hear that Dad has been up on
a ladder, or Mom was on the top rung of a
step stool changing a light bulb, it’s time to
consider whether or not they have enough
safety awareness to be home alone. Getting
Mom to let a stranger in to help could be
difficult, but if you truly feel she is likely to fall
down those basement steps with a basket of
laundry, don’t put it off!
It’s important that you take care of yourself
with all that you are balancing. You will be
amazed at the help that is available to you,
so utilize it. A good place to start could be
talking with a friend who has been through
it, or calling any one of the professionals
who are a part of Niagara Network. They
are dedicated to helping seniors, and if they
don’t have an answer for you, they can put
you in contact with someone who can help
guide you, and even help you to embrace this
“new normal” that your family is facing. So, if
you are the one hosting the family gathering
this year, take time to enjoy your parents no
matter where they are in the aging process.
Be thankful and confident that you are taking
steps to greater peace of mind for both you
and your parents as you make decisions that
will lead them to thrive and live the best life
possible!
For information on Niagara Network visit
niagaranetwork.net.
The Niagara Network is a group of business professionals affiliated with the human services
industry. If you would like to join or find out more information about the group and its members,
visit the Niagara Network’s web site at http://www.NiagaraNetwork.net.
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