FAMILY ISSUES
We know obesity is one of the main determinants of nursing home admissions, because when a person is obese as an older adult, they don’t have the muscle mass to carry the load, and they become sedentary. Family members of older adults will then have trouble caring for their loved ones if they are obese because they may not be able to move them around to care for them.
People aged over 65 say they are often lonely. Senior citizens experience loneliness from family members and neighbors which also effects physical health and can lead to obesity.
The Emotional Challenges of Caring for an Aging Parent
Many caregivers are adult children caring for their parents. There are many, many different emotions and reactions people having to this experience. It can be or feel:
- Awkward when roles are reversed.
- Uncomfortable when you find yourself feeding, bathing, or
supervising a parent who once took care of you. - Frustrating when parents don't listen to advice or accept
help.
While some individuals have a loving relationship with your parents, other adult children find themselves caring for parents they never got along with well or having to deal with a variety of family dynamics.These problems are very common. A support group, long-term care manager, or a family pastor may be able to help find ways to work things out with between the Individuals parent and themselves. Individual counseling can also be helpful.