- 1). Ask for help. This can be the biggest step in maintaining a healthy home for your parent. They may not need someone to check on them around the clock, but having a person who can act as an "assistant" to your parent a few hours a week is key. This person can run errands, make sure the home is clean and liveable and take your parent to doctor appointments or social outings.
- 2). Place a video camera in the home. If you are the worrywart of the family and want to have a constant eye on your parent at home you can go the spy route and install a "granny camera." Some consider this a little drastic, but it can be put to good use in the event that your parent falls and you need to put a finger on exactly what happened.
- 3). Keep the home safe. It's important that as your parent ages, their home remains a comfortable and safe place for them to dwell. If you know your mother has trouble getting up the stairs, why not move her main living areas downstairs? If there's a loose step out front, get it repaired before an accident happens. Your parent may not be able to keep the house up as they normally would, and it's important that you monitor this is as well.
- 4). Update alarms. One of the biggest problems with the elderly living at home can be theft, fire, or carbon dioxide alarms not being up to date. Go through your mother's home and make sure every device has batteries and is in working condition.
- 5). Visit, and visit often. Making sure the home is safe and hiring extra help is important, but nothing can trump spending quality time with your parent. Set aside a day or two a week to have dinner or for a quality visit. Encourage your children (if you have them) to spend time with their grandmother, and make sure she feels loved and safe in her home.
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