In most households, the mother is the primary caregiver — cooking food, washing clothes, getting children to school on time and ensuring the home runs smoothly.  It is a very difficult job at times, but mothers somehow always find a way to provide for their children.  Nothing matches the love, patience and dedication that a mother provides.

Their reward for all of this hard work is seeing their children grow up and start families of their own.  Mothers receive an immense amount of joy from watching their children develop and get the most out of life.

Mother’s Day is the perfect time of year to remember the countless acts of kindness which your mother has performed for you over the years.  It is also a good time to assess how well your mother is looking after herself as she ages.

Is your mother’s medical health being looked after appropriately?  Is she still managing to perform domestic tasks around her home?  Is she happy with her life?

This article on honoring Mom on Mother’s Day will take a look at how you can help your mother as she ages.  Mother’s day is an ideal time of year to make sure your mom is getting the help she needs.

Acting as a Caregiver For Your Mother

It is very natural for children to become caregivers for their mother as she ages.  It usually starts with some simple tasks like helping her clean the house, get to doctor appointments, perform grocery shopping and so on.

However, it is a role reversal that can take some getting used to — particularly for the parent.  To avoid any problems, you should make an effort to communicate with your mother.  Ask a number of questions about her situation including:

• Does she want to stay in her home as she gets older?
• Is she comfortable with you giving her assistance or would she prefer a professional home care service be used?
• Would she prefer to be more independent and perform certain tasks on her own?
• Does she need additional help for specific tasks that you may have overlooked?
• Is she concerned that you are spending too much time concentrating on her instead of the rest of your family?
• Are there any health problems which are worrying her?
• Is she eating a food which is healthy and nutritious food?

The answers to these questions will help you formulate a plan for providing her with assistance.

Many older women express a desire to stay in the family home as they age.  This is often because they have created an environment which is comfortable, familiar and full of cherished family memories.

Certain changes may have to be made to the family home to make it accommodating for your mother as she gets older.  These changes may include:

• Adding safety features like grab bars in the bathroom, additional lighting and non-slip mats to reduce the risk of a fall.
• Adding accessibility features like ramps to the home
• Installing additional security features if your mother will be living alone
• Purchasing an emergency response system, so your mother can quickly obtain help following an accident

Children should also make sure their mother’s emotional needs are met.  As a person ages, they may be unable to continue attending regular social events and are at risk of becoming isolated.  The aging process itself can also be difficult and it sometimes feels very lonely.

To overcome this, you should make sure your mother is in regular contact with people.  Visit her regularly, calls her often and is available for important appointments or events.  Take the time to enjoy a meal with your mother every week or two and ask her how she is doing.

Companionship is just as important as ensuring that your mother’s home is clean and that she has access to nutritious food.  Feeling excluded or not having contact with other people for an extended period can lead to depression, which may seriously impact your mother’s quality of life.

Use Mother’s Day as a Time to Meet Your Mother’s Needs

Mother’s day is the perfect time to reflect on the many ways your mom was there for you when you were growing up.  When you tell her how much you love and appreciate her this mother’s day, also ask her if she is happy.  Make sure her needs are being met.

Given all of the help she has provided for you over the years, you should do your best to ensure she is happy, relaxed and fulfilled as she gets older.

We hope you found this article on honoring Mom on Mother’s Day informative.  If you have any questions about caring for your mother as she ages or you want to discuss our non-medical home care services, contact All Heart Home Care at 619-736-4677.  We would love to come to your home and discuss the many home care options available!