Caring for old parents, a responsibility of everyone

When people talk of parenting, of course many think that they are actually talking of taking care of young ones. Ideally, parenting is the nitty-gritty of the entire process from preconception to maturity of our children even after they leave us. Of course there could be other definitions, but this fits the script. In view of this fact, even the older people also needs care and assistances wherever possible. Great care for them is highly required to make them survive happily. Caring for the aging parents in this case as is being applied in most communities is a rare phenomenon in developing world as most care givers are not financially good, or for some reasons they might fail to perform the intended work due to poverty. It poses difficult challenges especially when a crisis hits and when one is suddenly faced with such responsibilities of elder care, perhaps the aging mother or father has fallen ill and is hospitalized and needs close medical attention or facilities for nursing in order to recover. Becoming a caregiver to parents involves major changes for all concerned - physically, emotionally, socially and financially. Learning to cope with such changes in a healthy way is as important as to ensure the aging parents can live in a mutually loving and giving moral family relationship. Caring for old parents is indeed a responsibility that every person can handle when time comes and it’s difficult to do away with it, but it's the last thing one has to think about in life. Whether the time is now or somewhere down the road, there are basic steps that a care giver can take in order to make their life a little easier.

Older people in African communities. Poverty stricken situation is a major setback to the caring of the older people in these communities.

Some people live their entire lives with little or no assistance from family and friends, but today few people are living longer than ever before. It's always better to be prepared earlier no matter how far one is staying away from parents, says Samson Kanyondwi who stays in Dar es Salaam while his parents are far in rural Kasulu district. Kanyondwi who is the only son surviving his parents at his home village is a government employee who is about to retire, and despite of the fact that he is faced with numerous family matters such as paying school fees for his children, also he undertakes greater responsibility to ensure that his parents at home now deserves all the rights of survival for the rest of their life.
It’s a well-known fact that, when parents are getting older and older, the immediate person who is taking care of them has to ensure that they stay healthy. But it's difficult to monitor the health of the aging parents from miles away. Care givers must pay regular visits to them and ask about their health and find out if there's anything they can do to help them maintain their health standards and independence.

In Europe, caring of the older people is greatly taken into account, while in African societies, this is a rare phenomenon

Parents needs clothing, food and proper sheltering as these are the three basic material life for human beings. But how do care givers work on this idea into achieving the most needed objectives, actually is a matter of dedication and sympathy bearing the fact that they are parents without them even care givers would never have been born. There are certain basic considerations one has to think about old parents. For instance, take a look around your parents' home, keeping an eye out for anything that might mean they're having trouble maintaining their home. Has the well-maintained compound of their house become overgrown? Are there dirty things around or piles of filthy around? Think in terms of safety and note any changes in your parents' hearing and vision. Difficulty reading directions on prescription medications or hearing a doctor's advice could pose safety threats. Any big changes in the way your parents do things around the house could provide clues to their health. Pay attention to your parents' appearance and notice if they're keeping up with their usual personal hygiene routines. Are your parents' clothes clean? Do your parents appear to be taking good care of themselves? Failure to keep up with daily routines, such as bathing, tooth brushing and other basic grooming, could indicate health problems. Dementia, depression or physical impairments could be to blame, and are among the most common reasons why older people move to an assisted living center.

Older people must be helped and placed to stay in healthy environments.

Today, many adult daughters and sons find themselves called upon to help care for their aging parents. The commitment they have to make may be for a short time or it may last for years. It changes the roles, responsibilities and feelings within the family and can be complicated and confusing. At the same time, caring for an aging parent can also benefit the family. It can bridge the gaps among generations. Family support systems can be strengthened as members learn to prepare themselves for their own aging. In an African society, caring of old parents in most families has for long remain a mystery as most strongest age mate groups have migrated from rural life and entered in urban centers in search of job opportunities to earn their livelihood. Contrary to African point of view, in some European countries, the Parent Care Solution is a new tool for today. It is a proactive, caring process involving parents and their adult children. The Parent Care Solution helps preserve wealth and family relationships. It is an innovative solution to a serious problem