Support Groups for Children of Aging Parents

Support Groups for Children of Aging Parents

People struggling with their own problems aren’t in a good position to help others. It’s common for aging parents in need of help to not ask for it, frequently with bad effect. It can be just as common for those providing care to not seek help when it’s needed most.

When caring for aging parents, you can encounter a variety of challenging emotions: anger, anxiety, guilt, grief, and others. But broadening your network of support can make those challenges easier to manage. Below you can learn more about the kind of resources adult children caring for parents might want to consider; for the benefit of everyone involved.

Support Groups for Caregivers of Elderly Parents

It helps to have someone to talk with. And anywhere you have an internet connection, you’ll be able to access a number of caregiver support groups on Facebook. Most are private communities which invite anyone who asks to join, which enables those with a smartphone to participate from anywhere. Group privacy is maintained because it keeps those interactions off your public Facebook feed, and within the group.

Support groups for children of aging parents are often generalized communities, open and welcoming of all participants. For example, Caring for Elderly Parents and Caregivers Connect are two of the more popular support care-groups on the platform; but just two of dozens.

You can also find communities sharing more specific kinds of experiences, like the self-descriptive Dementia Caregivers Support Group, the Caregivers of Narcissistic Family Members, or the Working Daughter group for women balancing work-life with providing care.

Family Support for Elderly – Options

Any child taking care of elderly parents will face a few struggles along the way, and asking for help is often your best option. Locally speaking, counselors, social workers, and in-home care can also provide a lot of invaluable support. You might also consider looking for an organization specific to the illness or disability your parents are dealing with; they often have programs to provide assistance.

Support caring for elderly parents can come in many forms, but often times, your best option is no further away than asking family or friends. In short, talk to someone about your situation and ask them to contribute. It can be hard asking for needed help, but failing to ask can be worse.

It’s also important to keep in mind that caregivers need much of the same kind of care that they provide others. That includes adequate sleep, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and so forth. You should also watch out for signs of caregiver burnout and depression.

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How to Support Elderly Parents

The best way how to support aging parents should always be taken on a case by case basis. You might help manage medical appointments, schedule regular communication, arrange check-ins, setup an alarm system; but try and let your parents take the lead whenever its possible. And the same applies to caregiver support: The best way to support caregivers can depend on a variety of factors, but reaching out to others for guidance can be an enormous step forward.