Preparing to Become a Caregiver for Aging Parents

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As your parents get older, you may find yourself providing or assisting with their care.

As a caregiver, your responsibilities can range from shopping or providing transportation, to managing medication or bathing and dressing. Caregiving often includes tasks typically performed by health care professionals.

For some, assuming a caregiving role occurs gradually over time. For others, it happens overnight, such as in the case of an accident or a sudden onset of illness.

 

Do Your Parents Need Your Assistance?
It may not be easy to recognize when aging parents need help. Ask yourself these questions:

  • Are my parents safe in their home?
  • How well are they taking care of their needs?
  • Do they have difficulty getting around?
  • How are their moods? 

 

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Your parents may not specifically ask you for help. But you can be on the lookout for behaviors indicating that they need assistance, such as:

  • Forgetting to take medication
  • Refusing to seek medical treatment for serious illness
  • Withdrawing from usual activities
  • Neglecting household chores 
  • Hoarding
  • Dehydration
  • Poor hygiene or wearing unsuitable clothing for the weather
  • Confusion or forgetfulness, such as leaving a burning stove unattended

 

Keep in mind that not all warning signs are obvious. For example, a parent with depression may brighten up during a visit with you, especially if it’s a shorter one — making it more difficult to know when something is wrong.


3 Ways to Prepare for Your Role as a Caregiver
Though it’s not always possible, it’s best to prepare for health emergencies before they happen. You can take steps now to make some caregiving responsibilities easier in the long term.

  1. Have a Meaningful Conversation with Your Parents: Talk to your parents about their long-term care, including advance directives. Advance directives are legal documents that provide health care instructions in case your parents cannot communicate their wishes. Two examples are a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care, which names someone to act as your parents’ health care proxy if they are unable. 
  2. Make a Plan: A care plan is completed by your parents’ health care provider, and summarizes their health conditions and current treatments, including medications. It also includes contact information for their health care providers and other emergency contacts — as well as caregiving resources that are available to help you. You should also create an emergency action plan that outlines what will happen in the case of a health emergency. Update this plan every year, or whenever your parents’ prescribed medications change:
    • Where your parents will be brought
    • What supplies need to be taken
    • Who will take them
  3. Have Necessary Supplies on Hand: In case an emergency does happen, it’s a good idea to have some general supplies prepared in advance, including:
    • A list of your parents’ allergies and current prescription medications, including dosage details
    • Insurance information
    • Recent photos of your parents 
    • Medical equipment and devices, such as spare eyeglasses, hearing aids, and hearing aid batteries
    • Incontinence undergarments, wipes, and lotions
    • A cooler or insulated bag to keep medications cold
    • Warm clothing and sturdy shoes


You can also ask your parents’ health care providers to identify additional supplies that may be relevant to your parents’ specific medical conditions.