Your elderly loved one treasures their personal freedom as much as you do yours. Although old age has limited their ability to perform and complete certain tasks, your elder still wants to keep their independence as much as possible.

Angels of Care LLC, a provider of non-medical home care in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, enumerates some ways on how you can maintain your elder’s independence. Read more to find out.

1. Let them help.
   A lot of people think that elders do not want to move around the house. This is not always true. Your elderly loved one may just be waiting for you to ask them for help. Give them tasks that they are capable of doing. For instance, you can ask them to fold clothes.
2. Provide them with options.
   Instead of saying, “Let us just have salad for dinner, shall we?” Why not ask them, “Salad sounds good for dinner but so does smoked fish. Can you help me plan out what to have for dinner?”

   Do you see the difference between the two statements? In the former statement, your senior has no choice but to agree with your decision. By agreeing, it does not mean they like your decision. Whereas in the latter statement, you let them get involved. The latter statement is better because it makes your elder feel that their idea also matters.

3. Keep their home senior-friendly.
   By now, you should know that safety is one of the essential parts of ensuring your elder lives independently. How do you do that? Make their home senior-friendly! Every nook in the house can pose some serious risks to your senior’s health and safety. For instance, they can get into fall accidents while going up and down the stairs or slip while getting in and out of the shower.

   Here are some ways you can keep their home safe:

   • Install handrails on both sides of the stairs.
   • Make sure that the lighting is bright enough for your senior to clearly see.
   • Install grab bars near the bathtub or shower, as well as near the toilet.
   • Keep toxic chemicals out of the house.
   • Throw away expired foods and medications.
   • Keep essential things within your senior’s reach.
   • Place non-slip mats inside the bathroom and on slippery areas.
4. Encourage them to exercise regularly.
   Regular exercise provides several health benefits to your elder. One is that it can improve their range of mobility. It enables them to get in and out of a chair or their bed with more ease. Take note that your elder does not have to engage in strenuous physical activities. A thirty-minute walk per day will suffice. It might be a good idea to ask their physician for recommended light exercise routines.
5. Get someone to assist them.
   You may also want to consider getting home care services for your senior loved one. This holds especially true if your elderly lives alone. With home care services, your elderly can have someone who can assist them with their day-to-day tasks. It can also provide them companionship to make them feel less lonely.

Are you caring for an elderly person? Perhaps your grandparent or parent? Share some of your thoughts and help others by sharing your experience.