Caring for Elderly Parents and Relatives

Visit, write or call regularly. One-on-one visits are wonderful, but phone calls, cards, and letters will also boost spirits and communicate that you care. Try to be regular with calls and visits; if a visit must be delayed or canceled, call immediately and speak directly to your relative if you can. When you visit, let your relative set the pace. Every visit doesn't have to be a talkathon; sometimes just your presence is the greatest comfort.
Encourage children in the family to stay in touch. Include your children in visits when you can. Prompt young children to create pictures or cards for their relatives. If you live too far away for visiting, older children and teens can write and call. Talk with your children about what is happening. Without clear and age-appropriate explanations, youngsters may become scared, imagine that the situation is worse than it really is, or feel that they are somehow at fault. Honesty is essential, and adults should never convey false optimism when a relative (of any age) is chronically or terminally ill.
Treat the person as an adult and an individual. Unless an elderly relative is mentally incompetent, he or she should be listened to and taken seriously, especially about decisions that affect his or her life and health. Physical disabilities shouldn't be equated with intellectual or psychological incapacity. Since the natural consequences of aging can be frightening for younger people, it's a good idea to do some serious research and, if possible, talk with a gerontologist or a physician who specializes in care for the elderly.
If your relative is in a health care facility, talk with the staff about his or her condition and progress. Ask what you can do to assist. Treat all staff members with respect and courtesy, but be observant. If you see or hear something troubling, raise the issue with senior staff or administrators as well as other family members.
Keep family members informed. A family "phone tree" - a plan by which people are assigned names to call - is useful when news, such as a change in your relative's condition, needs to be communicated quickly. ~ Emily Post

My Gigi was in a wreck this year. My mom kept a watchful eye on her the entire time she was in the hospital. As always, my mother was kind and considerate to all hospital employees . . . but she did have Gigi's best interest at heart . . . so there were a couple "changes" in doctors. Gigi is back home now and doing great! This post is so true. . . Gigi loves to have visitors, calls, and cards! It makes her day! She is one of the most social people I know. . . a year or two ago, when she broke her ankle, I literally had to go over to her house to screen phone calls because so many people called that her answering machine filled up and she could not take a nap due to the constant ringing of the phone! (but I am sure she secretly LOVED having her message machine fill up with well wishers!)
So here is your challenge! Sometime this week, call or send a card to an older relative, widow, or someone who you know might be lonely! A cute Easter card would be the perfect "pick me up!" There is no better time to show God's love to others while remembering the love he showed us by giving His only Son to die on a cross for our sins so that we can rejoice with Him in Heaven for all of eternity! ~ Elizabeth