Healthy Living

Caring for an aging parent can be both complicated and rewarding. Having a little extra help can make all the difference. It’s important to take care of yourself, as well. Being a family caregiver can be both emotionally and physically exhausting, so here are some tips for caring for an aging parent at home. Cooking Simple Meals Part of holding on to your dignity as you age is remaining as independent as possible. So even if your parent needs significant assistance with living by herself or himself at home, there are ways to make it so that they can do some of the everyday tasks themselves. For example, on weekly grocery trips, be sure to pick up food items that they may be able to prepare themselves. Prepping ingredients beforehand and labeling them in containers in the fridge is always a great way to lend some assistance without overstepping. Laundry and Cleaning Laundry and cleaning are chores that require physical exertion, so it is best to get help with these tasks as much as poss...

Too busy even to pick up your prescription at the local pharmacy ? Life gets busy when you add caring for an aging parent or loved one to your full time job, especially when you still have kids at home who need you. Effective time management is the key. Here are a few tips for saving time and getting the important things done. A little planning can save time.   Identify what tasks need to be done and prioritize them. Make a to-do list and a schedule, either on paper or using one of the many smart-phone apps. Note trips or tasks that can be combined. Organize medications so you know when to get more before you run out.   Your community pharmacy can work with you to coordinate the prescription refill schedule to reduce trips to pick up medications. Ask if they offer prescription delivery . Some pharmacies will even set up personalized pill sorter boxes for their customers – a big time saver if either you or your parent takes a lot of medications. Share the car...