We probably all remember the days of doing chores around the house to earn our pocket money. As adults, those chores remain a fixture of our daily lives. However, for our parents, especially as they get older, it can become more difficult to complete these chores. This means it may be time for you to step in and start helping with the chores again.
Here are five chores you can do to help your parents at home.
Maintaining Independence
Stepping in to support your parents with household chores can take pressure off them and help them keep their homes in good order. Doing so, however, could leave your loved ones feeling like they can’t take care of themselves. Therefore it is important that you avoid taking over entirely. Make sure there are still tasks that they can do for themselves.
Our list of chores to help your parents focuses on larger jobs that may not be suitable for people living with health conditions or mobility issues.
1. Cut the Grass
Pushing a lawnmower around the garden can be a tiring job, even if you are fit and healthy. For our ageing parents, it can prove even more challenging. This is especially true if they have arthritis, which can make it difficult to grip the handle or cause pain when walking. Struggling to cut the grass may result in it growing too long, which can make it appear an even more daunting task.
Moreover, an unruly lawn may deter your loved one from spending time outside. Whilst this may not be a problem in colder months, gardening is a hobby that can have many benefits for your parent. Cutting the grass for your parent may be a big job at time, but it is one that could encourage them to be more active.
2. Hoovering
Another job that can prove quite tiring is hoovering the house. Dragging the vacuum cleaner from room to room, bending over to reach stubborn bits of dirt, and staying on their feet can all make hoovering difficult for your parent. By the time the job is done, they may feel too tired to complete any other chores.
Alternatively, they may find that it is necessary to take multiple breaks. In some cases, this could mean it takes a few days for them to hoover the whole house. Doing this job for them frees up their time and energy to complete other chores.
3. Change Bedding
This is a household chore that doesn’t necessarily come around very often. However, it can be a challenge if your ageing parent is living with arthritis or other conditions impacting their mobility. Bedsheets can prove difficult to handle, especially if it’s a larger bed. The buttons on duvet covers, in particular, can be fiddly.
This could be considered a small job. However, doing it for your loved one can help keep them from getting stressed. It may also help them sleep better at night, making other chores easier.
4. Groceries
Depending on your loved one’s mobility, they may struggle to move around a supermarket. Even if their mobility is good, they may find that a helping hand or two makes the job easier. Consider doing their shopping for them or accompanying them on a trip. It may be that they just need help getting to and from the supermarket, or someone else to carry the heavier bags.
Assisting with the groceries is also an effective way to make sure they are buying the things they need. Memory problems aren’t uncommon amongst the UK’s ageing population and therefore they may miss items from their shopping list. This could become even more of a problem if they forget their list or don’t have one. Accompanying them during a shopping trip can help them remain independent without any worries.
5. Wash the Floors
Like hoovering, washing and mopping the floors can be an intense job for our ageing loved ones. Moreover, as well as the physical exertion involved, washing the floors also creates slippery surfaces. These can pose a risk to our loved ones, especially if they have mobility issues.
Falls are amongst the greatest risks to the ageing population. They can have serious, long-term effects on your loved one’s wellbeing. Doing this chore for your elderly parents could reduce the chances of them suffering a fall.
Supporting Your Loved Ones at Home
At Careline365, we recognise the importance of maintaining our loved ones’ safety and independence. With a personal alarm, help is at hand 24/7, 365 days a year, all at the press of a button. Our range of products make sure you can always reach our UK-based Care Team, from the in-home personal alarm to our GPS pendant.
To find out more about the Careline365 alarm service, read our detailed guide or view our products. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can call our friendly team on 0808 304 4352 or send an email to info@careline.co.uk.
