What do you do when Mom can't care for herself anymore? Wading through elder care solutions is one of the toughest processes that any family goes through. If nursing home care just doesn't feel right, you might be considering caring for an aging parent in your own home. Before you invite a senior parent to live with you, it's important to know what lies ahead. Here are facts to help you and your family make a smart and compassionate decision:
Be prepared for an emotional experience.
If your family is more like the Osbournes than the Huxtables, caring for aging parents in your home can be a challenge. Even if you have a Leave-it-to-Beaver relationship with Dad, elder care solutions that include sharing your home with him can strain the relationship. The change can be so significant that some experts compare it to the same kind of emotional transition that happens with the birth of a baby or a new marriage.
For your parent, the loss of independence can trigger anger, a sense of loss, and even mourning. Your spouse or children might feel physically crowded or they might resent the extra responsibility that caring for aging parents bring.
Your family will need to make accommodations.
Unless you live like a rock star, chances are you'll need to make space accommodations. Will your teenage daughter need to share a room with Grandma? Will you need to cram another set of toiletries into your closet-sized bathroom? If one of your elder care solutions is sharing your home, talk to the rest of your family to determine if you have the necessary space.
You're on duty 24/7.
Although caring for aging parents in your home can be one of the ideal elder care solutions, it also means that you're the go-to person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If mom or dad requires only occasional help, you might not need to shoulder too much extra responsibility. However, once your senior parent becomes too ill or too frail to care for him- or herself, you could find yourself with a nursing job in addition to the roles you already fill as a spouse, a parent, a friend, or an employee.
Ask yourself if you-or other members of your family-are ready to help Nana to the bathroom at 4 a.m. or if you're prepared to include your wheelchair-bound dad when it's time for your annual beach getaway. They're not easy questions, but you'll need to answer them honestly if you want find the right elder care solutions for your loved one.
You're not alone.
Despite these challenges, there is help for those caring for an aging parent at home. Your local agency on aging can help you find elder care solutions that make home care easier. These groups can direct you to a host of services. For example, you might find a senior day center where your loved one can go while you're at work. Agencies on aging may also be able to recommend a case worker who can help you manage your parent's medical care. In addition, home health care services offer respite care, so you can have free time. Before you decide to move your senior parent into the family home, find resources and advice that can make the transition smoother.
Gregory Weldy is an expert on guiding families through the challenges of BestElderCareAtHome.com caring for an aging parent. He has written an amazing Free report called, "Nursing Home Nightmares: Challenges of Caring For An Aging Parent". To claim you FREE copy, visit: BestElderCareAtHome.com BestElderCareAtHome.com
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