Boosting Independence for Your Senior with Online Grocery Shopping

Independence and autonomy are important concepts for everyone at all stages in life. No matter what types of challenges and issues your elderly parent faces, supporting their continued independence and as much autonomy as possible is critical to keeping their mental and emotional health high as they age in place. As their family caregiver, you are responsible for ensuring that their needs are met and that they stay safe and healthy, but also that they are able to express as much of their independence and autonomy as they can. Today’s technology can make achieving that goal much easier for both of you. One way is with online grocery shopping. Some seniors might remember a time when they or their parents could call the local grocery store and make an order to be delivered to their home. This was a convenience to them, but also a way to overcome issues such as lack of transportation. Being able to get online and order groceries for delivery is the modern equivalent to that service, and a fantastic way to encourage your parent to stay as independent as they can throughout their later years. Some of the ways that you can boost your parent’s independence with online grocery shopping include: • Address transportation issues. Most seniors no longer drive, which means that their ability to get to the grocery store when they need or want to is limited. This means that they need to either rely on public transportation or others to shop. Online grocery shopping lets them get around this by ordering their groceries rather than always needing to go to the store. • Provide options. If your parent relies on you to do their grocery shopping for them, they might feel as though they are limited in what they can get. They have to trust you to pick out their groceries or to follow a list, reducing their flexibility. When they go online, they are able to choose whatever they want and change their minds as they want or need to. • Use their budget wisely. Even if your parent has entrusted you with their finances, this does not mean that they cannot make choices or select what they want. Through the use of online gift cards or prepaid credit cards, you can establish a set amount that they can spend on their order. They are then able to use this budget as they wish, supporting both their independence and their cognitive health. If you have been considering ways that you can boost your caregiver efforts for your senior and encourage a higher quality of life for them as they age in place, starting elderly care may be your ideal solution. An elderly home care services provider can be an invaluable addition to your care routine, ensuring that any care gaps that exist in what you are able to give to your parent are filled. This ensures that your parent will get all of the care, support, assistance, and encouragement that they need to handle their individual needs, challenges, and limitations in a way that is right for them. Through this highly personalized set of services, the elderly care provider can help your parent to pursue a lifestyle that is more independent and fulfilling as they age in place. As their family caregiver, this can give you peace of mind knowing that when you are with them and when you are not, your loved one is getting the care that is right for them and they are living the lifestyle that they deserve. If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Jupiter, FL, contact the caring staff at BrightStar Care of Jupiter. Call today (561) 741-1200. About the Author – Jack Nicol, Owner BrightStar is a private duty Home Care Agency that provides unskilled and skilled care for people needing assistance in their home or a facility. We opened our agency in Jupiter, FL 6 years ago. Our service area is Northern Palm Beach & Martin Counties. BrightStar is a Home Care Agency not a Nurse Registry. I have always been passionate about helping people. My entire adult life I have focused on giving back to the community. Five years ago when I decided I was not ready for retirement, I founded BrightStar and started a new career. Caring for people in need has proven to be very rewarding and proof that I made the right decision for my new career. BrightStar Home Care is a Joint Commission Accredited Private Duty Home Care Agency. Our goal is to offer superior and passionate caregiving of skilled and unskilled services. We service those in need including special needs children/adults and the elderly throughout our community whether in their home or a facility. Our Joint Commission Accreditation holds our agency to a higher professional standard.