According to the 2020 Census, the number of elderly Americans is on the rise.

Perhaps your parents are amongst the country’s burgeoning population of seniors. If so, you may be seeking out advice on how best to care for them as they get older.

It can be tough to know how to get help with aging parents. But there are steps you can keep them safe and happy, and have you feeling the same way.

Here are the main steps to take to help them.

Know How Much Care They Need

Not all elderly adults need the same level of senior care. Before you do anything, you need to know how much attention your aging parents will need.

So start by writing down all of the tasks with which they need help. Divide these to-dos into categories: daily, weekly, monthly. An easy way to do this is to keep a note on your phone and write it down every time someone helps your parent with something.

Once you’ve done this for a month or so, you should have a clear idea of how much help your aging parents need.

Consider Your Schedule and Abilities

Next, you need to be real with yourself. How much time and energy do you have to devote to caring for aging parents?

Look at the list of tasks and realistically mark off the ones you can help with. Perhaps you can, indeed, handle the entire list. If you can’t though, you’re going to have to consider bringing in others or hiring aging parents help.

It’s vital that you’re honest with yourself during this part of the process. It can become very stressful to you if you put too much on your plate, especially as a caretaker. So prioritize your own mental health and commit to only what you know you can handle.

Get the Help You Need

Depending on your parents’ situation, you may need to start researching assisted living facilities or nursing homes, where someone can provide around-the-clock monitoring and care. Or maybe you will have to start interviewing nurses or assistants to come in and help with day-to-day tasks while your parents remain in their home.

There are plenty of other ways to help your aging parents too, especially if they don’t need as much care as nursing homes or assisted living homes provide. You can schedule food deliveries so they don’t have to worry about shopping. Or maybe you can sign them up for activities so they get the chance to socialize and make friends, which is very important for seniors.

Check out your list of tasks for inspiration. Chances are, there’s an app or program that can help you get those to-dos done.

And don’t forget to keep other family members in the loop too. There are sure to be others who love and want to help your aging parents. You are not alone.

Get Help With Aging Parents

You love your mom and dad, and that’s why you’re here. Getting help with aging parents will be better for all of you, so don’t feel guilty. You should be proud that you’re able to provide such a safe, healthy, and happy life for the ones you love.

And if you need more advice in the meantime, we’re here to help. Check out the rest of our blog for more life and family advice, as well as tips and tricks.