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As they age, even the most active parents who used to be as busy as bees in their prime succumb to laziness. Aging is a package deal that includes low energy and laziness. So, you shouldn’t blame your parent for being a couch potato.
If you have a lazy elderly parent, the best thing you can do is offer them support. If you cannot personally take care of your parent, you can hire caregivers or buy home equipment designed to make life easy for elders. Alternatively, you can encourage your parent to exercise more.
This article will explore the various strategies to deal with a lazy elderly parent. If you want to learn how to make life easier for you and your parent, this article will give you some valuable tips.
Be Considerate Towards Your Parents
As I’ve already said, your parent isn’t lazy – old age is causing the situation.
Imagine constantly suffering from back pain and joint aches. That’s a formula for hating to perform any form of activity. However, that doesn’t mean your parent cannot do better if they change some aspects of their lifestyle and thinking.
While it’s nearly impossible to convince an elderly parent to change their life, it’s still feasible.
As long as you approach the situation from a place of love and sympathy, your parent cannot but agree with whatever you suggest.
Many children blame their parents and support them with bitterness. That kind of energy is not going to make the situation any better. Being considerate and gentle in your approach will always give you the upper hand.
Now that I said that, let’s get to the meat and potatoes of this article.
See if Your Parent Is Into the Idea of Assisted Living
Since this is a sensitive subject for many elders, you must test the waters first.
While many parents would not appreciate the idea of moving to assisted living because of pride, if you make the idea sound more appealing, you might succeed at convincing them.
When you bring up assisted living and caretaking facilities, you can’t help but give your parents the impression that they’re a burden. However, that’s a thought pattern that you and your parents should transcend.
When looking at all the perks of assisted living, anyone with a rational mind would conclude that it’s a great idea. Assisted living covers everything an elder could need, no matter their health situation.
If you and your parent agree that assisted living could be a suitable option, make sure to find the right assisted living option for your parent.
Select one that offers a home-like environment your parent would appreciate better than home. And you should probably not call it assisted living.
Using words like adult care facilities or residential facilities instead of assisted living can be considered a cheap linguistic trick, but it could work.
The monthly payment for a good assisted living facility in the U.S. ranges from $3,500 to $6,000 per month.
Hire a Caregiver for Your Parent
Having a caregiver to come home and take care of your parent is an excellent option for parents who dislike the idea of moving out of their homes.
Ideally, you want to hire a caregiver that gets along very well with your parent. As long as there’s a good relationship between your parent and the caregiver, having a person who can help will allow your parent to be lazy without any dire consequences.
The average hourly rate for hiring a caregiver in the U.S. is between $15 to $30.
I also recommend reading my article on the differences between home care and caregivers so that you can make an informed decision. Home Care Vs Caregivers: The Differences Explained
Buy Home Safety Equipment for Your Elderly Parents
You can also assist your “lazy parent” by providing all the necessary home safety and comfort equipment you can afford. There are millions of products out there that make life easy for elders.
Here are some of the essential safety tools your parent might need:
Wheelchairs, Walkers, and Accessible Ramps
If your parent suffers from back and knee issues, having a wheelchair, rollator, or walker would spare them much pain.
Walkers can make moving around and climbing stairs much smoother for the elderly with back and joint problems. A simple walker like the Drive Medical Folding Walker (available on Amazon.com) should do a good job. It is made of lightweight yet sturdy aluminum that allows for convenient use. Plus, this brand is super reliable – it’s what I buy for my parent.
However, getting around with these walking assistants can be challenging, especially if your parent lives somewhere with stairs, ledges, and overhangs.
So, adding ramps to your parent’s home can make things a lot easier on them and help them get around as their body ages.
This Ruedamann Aluminum Folding Threshold Ramp (available on Amazon.com) is an excellent option since it’s portable and easy to move around as needed, giving your elderly parent more mobility.
Safety Grab Bars and Walkers
With all the joint aches, it’s no wonder why your parent is lazy. A simple act, like going to the bathroom, can feel like a nightmare sometimes.
Having grab bars makes moving around the house much more accessible, encouraging your parent to be more active. Grab bars should be everywhere around the house, especially in the bathroom. This Able Life Grab Bar (available on Amazon.com) is a good option since it’s sturdy and easy to install.
Other Equipment for Elders
Other equipment for elderly parents includes adjustable beds, bed railings, specialized toilet seats, specialized shower chairs, etc. Once you start noticing what makes your parent dislike moving around, you’re one Google search away from finding a gadget that will provide some help.
Maybe Your Parent Is Just Lazy and Needs To Exercise
Your parent could probably use some physical activity. Everyone knows the benefits of exercising, so I’m not going to list them here. What I believe I have to tell you is to show your parents instead of telling them.
Instead of telling your 60-year-old mom that she needs to exercise if she wants to improve her energy levels, invite her for a walk in the park.
If your parent is very reluctant to start walking or exercising, you can show them this video of this badass granny who changed her life after joining the gym: Elderly Parent Refuses to Walk? Here’s What to Do
Bodybuilding enhances bone density, which is very important for elders. Resistance training is one of the best things elders can do to improve their health and be more independent.
Alternatively, enroll your parent in a yoga, water aerobics, or dance class as a present or just talk to them about it. Any form of exercise is better than no exercise. Plus, classes can also improve the social life of your elderly parent.
And if your parent is the super lazy type who prefers to stay at home, you can get them some exercise equipment. You can start with something simple like this gentle, circulation-boosting Silverfeat Leg Activator (available on Amazon.com).
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. If you’re doing your best to help your parent stay active, that’s all that matters. While your parent may genuinely suffer from health problems that don’t allow them to be as active as they should be, that’s not the end of the story.
Ideally, your parent’s energy levels will improve with exercise. If that doesn’t work, you can try to convince them to accept help from an assisted living facility or a caregiver.
Regardless, you should consider buying at least some grab bars. Simple things can make a huge difference in your parent’s mobility.
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