Making a decision on how to best care for an elderly parent is never easy. Oftentimes, emotions run high when adult children are torn between keeping their aging loved ones at home or, entrusting their care to alternatives such as an assisted living facility. Most seniors would prefer to remain in their own home or the home of their children, if possible. Many families respect this desire as best able, but all adult caregivers have a finite amount of energy and time. Deciding whether to keep an aging parent at home, or relocate them to a nursing home or assisted living facility may be tough, but being well informed about what each option entails can make the process easier.
There are certain factors which should always be taken into account when making this decision. This can include the desires of you and your loved one, financial constraints, and the extent of care which is needed to enhance their quality of life.
Assisted Living Facilities
An assisted-living environment is a community setting for seniors who have specialized needs. These facilities usually encourage an active routine and will provide a variety of activities. These features cater to the elderly and are enhanced with features to allow for increased mobility and better safety. These features are ideal for more fragile seniors who are prone to accidents or have limited mobility.
Although unfortunate, a large number of seniors experience a significant amount of emotional and psychological distress when moving away from their familiar home setting. This experience may reduce their sense of independence, feeling of privacy and overall feeling of comfort. Assisted living communities can be costly but may be ideal for some seniors and families. This is more true for seniors who require focused, 24/7 care.
Home Care
Senior home care is becoming more and more popular in the U.S. as time goes on. This is due to a variety of reasons. Although hiring a home care professional does require some financial investment, it can be utilized to different degrees which allows for adult children to budget more easily, Because the level of care needed can vary greatly, the cost of home care can also have a range. Some seniors may only need help with certain chores or tasks that have become physically difficult for them. Others may struggle with many activities of daily living (ADLS) and will need more supervision and attention.
One of the most appealing aspects of home care is that aging seniors are able to remain comfortable and connected in a familiar home setting. The ability to stay at home and maintain a lifestyle that is more similar to what they have been used to allows elders to maintain a strong sense of autonomy, Past feeling more independent, a professional caretaker provides meaningful companionship to seniors who may not experience much social activity apart from the interaction they have with family, A more social sernior will generally feel better and will be more enthusiastic about keeping up with their normal routines and schedules. The improved mood of an aging loved one will also improve the mood of their adult children who will not experience feelings of guilt.
Home Care programs are tailor made so that they better suit the needs of the elder. The care regimen may include hands-on (more involved) or hands-off (less involved) care. Typically, a consult is performed by a home care agency before service is provided in order to determine the needs of the senior and their family members.
Questions to Consider
Making a decision regarding caring for an elderly loved one is never easy and many adult children don’t know where to start. It is always recommended for families to discuss their unique circumstances with a senior care professional. However, here are some questions that adult children should be considered when entertaining options:
- What does your aging parent or loved one want? What are their wishes?
- Are there any steps that can be taken to improve safety at the home they are currently residing in?
- How much care and attention do they need?
- Do they need reminders for daily tasks such as when to take medication?
- Would they benefit from having meals prepared on a regular basis?
- Is it safe for them to be alone for long periods of time?
Contact Caring Hands Matter Today
Understanding your options for providing care for an aging parent or loved one is a confusing process. Caring Hands Matter focuses on providing reliable home care services for seniors. Our services are designed to provide meaningful companionship to elders while simultaneously relieving their primary caregivers of stress and anxiety. Learning more about home care is a great way to start the process, call Caring Hands Matter or, contact us online today to hear more about our services and how we can benefit you and your loved one.