Making the Decision to Have an Elderly Parent Move In
As our parents get older, there are some things they will no longer be able to do without assistance. Some may not be able to bathe or dress themselves anymore, while others may be struggling with a medical condition that makes living alone difficult, such as Alzheimer’s disease. When your parent is in need of elder care, you may be quick to volunteer for the caregiving position and offer to have them move in with you without carefully thinking about it. While one in four caregivers do live with an elder, take the following factors into consideration to find out if it is the right move for you and your parent.
What type of care will be needed?
If your parent has a health condition that requires extensive care, hiring an in-home care professional to provide these services may be necessary. However, if your loved ones are still able to live independently and are pretty healthy, then they most likely will not need very much assistance. Seniors who do have medical problems may have rapidly changing health problems in the near future, so make sure to thoroughly educate yourself on any condition your loved one has been diagnosed with to find out what type of care they will need the next few months or years.
How much supervision is necessary?
Wandering or other safety issues are a common concern for those elders with cognitive problems. If your loved one has a disease that affects their memory or cognitive skills, around-the-clock care may be needed. Depending on the current health of your parents, you need to determine if you will have the time in your schedule to provide the necessary supervision, if you would be able to do the tasks they will need help with, and if there is anything you are unwilling to do. Assisting with the senior care of an elderly loved one may be difficult for those who are close to the elder because they will be responsible with dressing, bathing, and hygiene of their parent. Decide whether or not you will be able to provide the assistance and supervision that is needed before offering to move them in.
How is your relationship?
Think about your history with this family member; were there ever any big arguments between you two or did you have a close relationship? All family members have disagreements at some point, but if you have been able to easily forgive each other and move on in the past, then you both will most likely get along just fine under the same roof. People who have always had a distant relationship and never really got along will not magically become best friends when living together. Keep in mind that personalities and moods may be shifted with some diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, which will make the person you knew growing up someone entirely different. Just in case they have a different personality, make sure you have a backup plan for where your loved one will stay if it ends up being too much for you.
Living with an aging parent has a number of benefits; children will get to know their grandparent better and you could strengthen your already-close relationship. Before offering to have them move into your home, take these factors into consideration.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care services in Blue Bell, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.
