3 Things You Can Do to Make Life at Home Easier on Your Elderly Parent

Whether your parent lives in your home or you are responsible for taking care of them in theirs, you're likely always looking for ways to make their life a little easier and more enjoyable. Here are a few things you can do to help get the job done:

Prepare Weekly Meals

You can make meal time easy on your parent by preparing a few meals for the upcoming week ahead of time. If your parent is living with you, they'll have access to quick and easy meals to enjoy when others aren't around to cook. If your parent is living alone, the meals will ensure that they don't have to cook for themselves when nobody else is around to help or keep an eye on their safety.

Make a big batch of soup, a casserole or two, and a big rice dish each week then split the dishes up into multiple meals. Put some of the meals in the fridge and others in the freezer so they will last all week long. The individually packaged meals can be easily microwaved by your parent whenever they get hungry.

Create a Designated Safe Room

It's a good idea to designate one room in the house that your parent can use to stay comfortable and safe when nobody else is home to keep them company. The room should be located near a bathroom and include a mini fridge and microwave along with basic living furniture such as a couch and television.

Make sure your parent's favorite hobby equipment and supplies are also stored in the room. When your parent feels lonely or intimidated by navigating through the whole house by themselves, they can spend their time in the safe room until someone can be home to spend time with them.

Install a Stair Lift

If your parent lives in a multi-story home, one of the most important things you can do to make their lives easier and more enjoyable is to install an in-home stair lift. This will allow them to maintain some of their independence by having the ability to roam around the entire house as they see fit.

Your parent will also be able to travel the stairs while carrying things without fear of falling or running out of energy mid-stride. Even if your parent usually doesn't have too much trouble walking up and down the stairs, they'll appreciate the convenience and comfort a stair lift offers after a long day. Stair lifts come in a variety of designs and colors, so the one you choose doesn't have to stick out like a sore thumb once installed.