Home Care Can Be a Challenge When Your Parent Is Immobile

How to Deal With an Immobile Parent

When an aging parent can no longer move around, it can be incredibly tough to deal with. Immobility should be expected with an aging parent, but most people aren’t prepared for how quickly it can happen. Before you know it, basic routines become a near impossibility for your parent without help.

It is understandable that you would want to step up and provide the care for your parent yourself, but your parent’s quality of life may suffer because of it. Enlisting home care assistance would ensure that the quality of life will remain high for your parent.

The Causes of Immobility

In order to prevent or deal with immobility, you need to know the causes. Old age is a huge factor, but inactivity, obesity, depression, and conditions like arthritis or diabetes are all contributing factors. If it gets to the point where your parent is bedridden, skin infections or bed sores may appear. Be on the lookout for the causes to avoid such things.

You also need to look out for your own well-being, as attempting to provide your parent with support and assistance throughout the day can be draining. This puts you at risk of experiencing caregiver burnout and becoming anxious or depressed. Home care can help ease your mind by taking some of the caregiving responsibilities, allowing you to provide better care yourself.

Home Care for the Immobile

Just because the transition to life without full mobility is a challenging one doesn’t mean that the quality of your parent’s life should be any lower. A good home care provider will make sure that all of your parent’s needs are met so that he or she can live a fulfilling life in his or her own home.

Home care will make your parent’s life less stressful by helping with personal care, meal prep, and taking medications. Transportation can even be provided if your parent wants to leave the house. Your parent will also get companionship and friendly conversation from his or her caregiver, which can prevent loneliness.

Fall Prevention for the Immobile

Fall prevention is essential if you have an immobile parent. Moving around the home is hard enough without additional hazards that could possibly cause a fall. Many home care providers offer fall prevention services and can fall-proof the home. Should the fall-proofing somehow fail to prevent a fall, caregivers are available for immediate assistance.

If you are concerned about your parent falling and want to learn how to make his or her home safer, click here.