As you progress through the varied phases of your life, your levels of independence can take on different meanings. They can be bigger stages, such as moving out of your parents’ home or getting married, or smaller stages, like accomplishing tasks you thought you couldn’t do. Then later, as you age, independence takes on another form – having the option to continue to live in your own home safely and securely. This preference to be at home can be the greatest wish of many older adults, no matter their state of health or capacity to function independently, even in the face of injury, illness and chronic conditions.

For adult children, caregiving for older loved ones at home can be rife with physical, emotional and social issues, as they increase their role as caregiver and become increasingly involved in the everyday responsibilities this essential role requires, all while retaining that balance of independence.

It’s natural to get caught up in the role of caregiver when the need develops—your parents have done so much for you that, when they reach a point in their lives when they need assistance, it’s natural for you to want to do everything you can to see to it that they are taken care of. Nonetheless, it’s essential to remember that, for most, maintaining that independence for seniors was a key point in their preference to stay at home. Although your efforts may be well meaning, it can oftentimes be natural to go from caring for aging parents to doing everything for them. And often, this well-meaning hands-on care can have a negative effect on boosting self-sufficiency and overall day-to-day freedom. As a caregiver, you should try to foster the independence of your loved ones, not take over.

Why is advocating independence in seniors so significant?

• Independence allows older adults to continue making contributions to society, and to feel good about that influence
• Self-sufficiency provides seniors with a sense of fulfillment and self-worth, essential during their later years
• Being able to manage some tasks without assistance boosts future and continuing self-reliance—if they can do this, they can almost certainly handle that!
• Independence fights discouragement and feelings of ineffectiveness, even in the wake of illness, injury and the overall effects of aging

In these instances it’s worthwhile to put yourself in your aging parents’ shoes. How would you react if there were things you were able to do, but weren’t permitted to because another person had taken over? Allowing your senior loved ones to do things independently provides a sense of purpose and can help them feel self-assured. By bringing in professional assistance from people who specialize in home care for seniors, you can help enhance your parents’ feelings of empowerment and ability to function effectively at home. Visiting Angels, a Sunnyvale senior care company, can help you and your loved one when this need arises.

Our competent staff provide a broad range of services for senior home care in San Francisco, allowing older adults to focus on what they can do, and helping them with tasks they would rather not do or now have a hard time performing. Our in-home care services include light housekeeping and meal preparation as well as general assistance with daily tasks. By allowing our staff to provide this type of care, both you and your parents can better work together to foster self-reliance, independence and an improved overall quality of life. Contact Visiting Angels of Sunnyvale online by clicking here or by phone at 408-735-0979 today to learn more.