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Once you reach a certain age, you will experience a fundamental shift in your life. Suddenly, you will have far more independence than your elderly parents. This is quite an odd occurrence and it’s not something that most people expect or see coming. Particularly, if you have parents who are quite fit and healthy. You convince yourself that they are going to remain that way until the end of their days. But of course, this isn’t true and age catches us all eventually. You will need to understand and learn how to deal with this change. There are a few options that you can consider here. 

You do need to start keeping a check for signs that your elderly parents need more help and assistance in their life. It is particularly vital that you keep a check for signs like dementia. Don’t forget that dementia can start, even from an early age and the signs are often missed. A common symptom of this developing disease will be someone zoning out of a conversation and blanking completely on what you were talking about. When this happens, it’s important not to panic. But you should make sure that you are getting your parents a checkup. An early diagnosis can lead to more positive results. 

Another sign will be more trips and falls or even hospital visits. This is your warning sign that your elderly parents may no longer be able to live by themselves or even in their own homes. 

There are a few coping strategies to consider and this is always going to be determined by what stage your elderly parent is at. For instance, it’s possible that they are struggling with motor control. There are lots of little items that can make their lives easier such as soft velcro shoes for elderly people or perhaps a gate for the stairs. 

Of course, you can also make more drastic changes. For instance, you can consider helping your elderly parents relocate to a single-story home. The big benefit of doing this is that you won’t have to worry about them slipping or tripping when they walk up and down the stairs. This is a common cause of accidents and injuries. It’s definitely one that you need to be prepared for. You might also want to consider whether it’s time for them to move into residential care. Usually, this is going to be a joint decision. But it can bring tremendous benefits including more chances to socialize with people their own age. 

Finally, you can consider bringing your elderly parent home to live with you. Be aware that this is going to be a massive change in your life. You’re probably never going to be able to fully prepare for all the changes that this entails so consider a choice like this carefully. Don’t rush in unless you are absolutely certain that this is going to be the right decision for you, your elderly parent and the rest of your family.