4 Questions to Help You Determine When Your Parent Needs A Senior Companion
As our parents age, it can be difficult to address their needs when, for so many years, it was their job to respond to our needs. Older adults often struggle to articulate unmet needs; many older adults hesitate to acknowledge that they can’t do everything for themselves.
One option available to aging adults is a Senior Companion. Senior Companion services are available to step in and help you be more effective with your time. Senior Companions provide support for older adults; they run errands, help with daily tasks, attend leisure events, and provide friendship and support.
Would your parent benefit from a Senior Companion? Ask the following questions to determine if a Senior Companion program would be right for your mom or dad.
Do you have a hard time with your daily tasks?
Daily tasks include cooking breakfast, keeping appointments, and taking medication. Some adults find it difficult to keep routine activities organized. A Senior Companion can keep track of daily routines that are essential to overall wellness and health.
Do you sometimes feel lonely or isolated?
Expressing feelings, especially negative ones, may be difficult for adults of an older generation, but many seniors report feeling lonely in their advanced years. Friends and loved ones pass away and it becomes difficult to create or sustain meaningful friendships. Senior Companions are a source of stable friendship. Even if a parent is independent, a Senior Companion is a valuable contribution to quality of life.
Are there activities you used to enjoy that you no longer participate in?
There are many reasons an older adult might stop participating in an activity: concern about driving, lack of co-participants, inability to perform the task to satisfaction. A Senior Companion will not only provide functional support like a car but also the emotional support to encourage your parent to stay involved.
Is there anything you wish you could do that you don’t do now?
For some parents, it’s an unrealized dream. For others, it’s a simple task like cleaning out a spare room. Even small wishes like visiting an ethnic restaurant can add vibrancy and newness to your parent’s life. Though a Senior Companion won’t be bungee jumping, a Senior Companion can identify the steps necessary for your parent to realize a small goal.
If you think your parent would benefit from a Senior Companion, it’s easy to get started. Start small, with a task of two each week. Or rely on them more with several tasks each day. Either way, a senior companion will quickly become an important part of your mom or dad’s life – and yours too.
