Supporting Aging Parents as a Team: 4 Strategies for Couples

Many people eventually become caregivers for their parents. Aging slowly dismantles everyone’s ability to care for themselves, but stepping in to help might feel strange.

Use these four strategies to support your aging parents as a team and avoid some common pitfalls.

1. Ask for Their Care Preferences

Everyone has preferences about how they want to live their daily lives. Avoid making the mistake of choosing everything for your parents when you become caregivers. It takes away the autonomy they have left.

Ask questions about where they’d like to live, what parts of their routine are most important and how you can best help them.

2. Set up and Enforce Boundaries

Research shows that family caregivers worked over 36 billion hours in 2022. Supporting aging parents can quickly become a full-time job. Set boundaries regarding how and when you’ll help them to avoid deteriorating relationships and situational stress.

Talk about when your parents are ready to be alone for the night and when you can show up in the morning. Give them responsibilities to handle independently. You can also hold monthly meetings to discuss what’s working and which part of their routine needs adjusting.

If you ever feel like there’s no way to create and enforce boundaries, it could be time to consider hiring professional care. Non-medical home care teams manage responsibilities like light housekeeping, transportation, meals and bathing. Skilled care teams would be more useful if your aging parents are recovering from an injury or illness. Asking for help from people equipped to provide consistent care could deliver the healthier balance your family needs.

3. Remember Their Medical Needs

Your parents may be able to take care of their medical needs now, but that won’t always be the case. Track appointments alongside them and study their medication routine. You’ll understand what they need when they can’t care for themselves anymore.

Skilled care workers are always available when someone’s medical needs are too much. If you need to work full time or raise a family and struggle as a medical caregiver, expert workers can step in to assist.

4. Create Social Opportunities

Aging parents may spend more time at home than they ever have before. The isolation may lead to depression unless you create social opportunities for them. Arrange meetings with their friends or sign them up for recurring events like clubs.

Help them engage with others by practicing an icebreaker joke or referring to a list of conversation starters.

Strategize Your Parental Support

Enter your caregiving position with confidence. Your partner can work with you to utilize tips like these and support your parents in the best ways possible!