4. Caring for an Elderly Parent After a Fall
If your parent has suffered from a fall, you will need to help prepare them for even more restricted mobility. Broken bones will take longer to heal, and during the healing process they will not be able to get up and move around without assistance. Some even have a hard time moving around in bed, and you will need to help them move or roll over in order to avoid bed sores.
Make sure to find the right beds and chairs to keep the bed sores away, and ensure that they are eating properly, doing what exercise they can, and using the bathroom.
5. The Road to Rehab
Rehab will be painful and demanding on the elderly parent, and it will take all of your positivity to help them stay cheerful with the work they will be forced to do. Joint injuries can take much longer to heal than simple broken bones, so prepare your parent for months spent doing rehab every few days.
One important thing to remember is that your parent needs to know the injury wasn’t their fault. Some injuries are pathological, meaning they occurred without any fall or trauma the result of old bones. They will always suffer the guilt of “what if I had avoided it?” so you need to remind them that it’s not their fault. Most importantly, find ways to entertain the parent now that they are relegated to their bed.
The last thing they want to do is spend hours staring at the walls and ceiling, so install a TV in their room, bring them a stack of books, and make sure they have plenty of things to keep them entertained and occupied.
6. Look After Yourself, Too
You, as the caregiver, need to be able to spend time away from your elderly parent. Now that their mobility is limited, the demands placed on you will be much greater. You need to be able to sleep, exercise, eat properly, and relax. Your parent needs to know that they aren’t a burden on you, but you cannot dedicate all of your time to helping them.
Make sure to take time out for yourself.
