Resources for Those Caring for Aging Parents
Sometimes older adults need a little extra help with their daily routines. Fortunately, there are options such as meal delivery, help with household chores, and social activities to help them live independently at home.
Nutrition Services
If your loved one is having trouble cooking or accessing healthy foods, Meals on Wheels excels at delivering meals to seniors that are freshly prepared and nutritious. Our meals come with the added benefit of a visit from a friendly volunteer.
Help at Your Door provides grocery services to people who have trouble getting to the store. If affording healthy food is an issue, your loved one may qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This tool can help determine eligibility.
Find additional information on nutrition resources from Hunger Solutions Minnesota.
Chore Services
A variety of services are available such as lawn mowing, snow removal, housekeeping, minor home repairs, in-home safety checks, and technology support. To learn more about available services, you can connect with the local agency on aging or call the Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433.
Senior Community Services offers chore services in Hennepin County and Trellis has a list of providers for the metro area.
Social Activity
Friends & Co pairs volunteers and seniors with shared interests in social activities. Local senior centers are also an excellent resource for social activities in the neighborhood.
Physical Activity
Being active improves both mental and physical health. Senior centers or local health clubs often have senior-focused exercise programs.
Silver Sneakers is a great resource for older adults looking for fitness programs. They offer both in-person and online fitness classes.
Additional Resources
Minnesota Senior Linkage Line has additional resources available for older adults and caregivers. Visit their website for more information or call 1-800-333-2433.
Tips for Talking to Your Aging Parents
These conversations can be difficult. When it’s the younger person’s turn to provide care options for an aging loved one, both sides may find themselves in an unfamiliar position. Luckily, there are ways to navigate this conversation to ensure every person feels comfortable and a part of the discussion. Accepting help isn’t always easy, but if you approach the conversation with compassion, you’ll likely find that it goes better than you might have thought.
Here are a few tips to help you start the conversation:
Start with “I” Statements
An easy way to break the ice is to talk about a related issue that you’ve been having. For example, maybe you’re taking certain medications, and you can share that sometimes it’s hard to remember to take them. Or, perhaps, you can talk to them about how nice it was to have someone help with the chores or cook for you at a time when you were laid up. Or you can state, “I’m concerned about you, and I just want to make sure you’re okay when we aren’t around.”
Acknowledge Independence
We all value independence, so there’s no getting around the fact that your loved one will likely want to hang on to theirs. Many available resources can actually help them live independently at home.
For example, services like Meals on Wheels ensure aging adults have access to fresh, nutritional meals that are delivered each day. This means seniors can enjoy their independence but won’t need to worry about so many routine tasks like cooking—giving them more freedom to do other activities.
Share Information
If you have a service in mind, it might be helpful to share brochures or other materials (for example, you can email [email protected] if you would like us to send one).
This way if they aren’t quite ready to say “yes,” you can ask them to look through the materials and say that you will follow up later.
Be Flexible
If the older adult in your life is unsure about receiving help, let them know that they can try it, and if they don’t like it, they can stop receiving the service. With Meals on Wheels, you can decide to discontinue services at any time.
To learn more about how Meals on Wheels can help with delivering meals to your loved ones, check out our FAQs or contact us directly for help!