Your relationship with your elderly parents might not be rosy, and, in most cases, you should not feel ashamed or guilty about this, especially if your older parents have had a difficult relationship with you for many years.
However, as they come to the end of their lives, you might want to boost your connection and ensure that you can make positive memories that you can look back on with joy and contentedness. Then, here is a guide to improving your relationship with your parents in 2025.
Set Boundaries
The first step that you should take is to set boundaries. These boundaries will ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows when they are about to push it too far. Not only this, but this will help you to maintain your physical and mental wellbeing as you build your relationship back up.
You should always make these boundaries clear and ensure that the goalposts do not move over time. However, you should remember that boundaries go two ways and that your parents can implement them, too.
Be Patient
Sometimes, your parents can be frustrating and irritating. However, rather than getting uptight, you should instead practice patience, especially if the cause of your irritation is a symptom of a wider issue, such as dementia.
By being patient, you will be creating a loving and peaceful relationship between you that prioritizes connection and that does not fall at the smallest hurdle. If you do find yourself getting frustrated, you should consider leaving the room to count to ten and take a breather.
Go With Support
If you know that you struggle when you see your parents, you should try to enlist the support of a partner or another trusted person. When you go to visit your parents together, you will always be able to feel as if someone is on your side and they can provide a calming presence for you and your family. They might be able to diffuse tension and remind you to stay calm and focus on what is important. They will also be able to talk through the situation once you return home.
Look at Care Homes
However, many people’s relationships with their parents are strained due to the fact that they act as a carer for them, and this is unwilling in some cases. If you know that your relationship with your parents has deteriorated since you started to care for them, you might decide to look at care homes with them.
These care homes can mean that you can become their child rather than a parental figure in their lives again, and that you are able to visit them as and when you feel up to it. You can find a supportive and welcoming care home environment by visiting morriscare.co.uk.
Distance Yourself
However, if your relationship with your parents is beyond repair and you are struggling to build the connection you have always dreamed of, it is important to know that you can create distance between you at any time.
You might decide that you only want to visit them in person during holidays, or that you want to limit the amount that you do for them. By doing this, you will be able to prioritize your own health and wellbeing, as well as that of your children and partner.
