Considerations for Providing Home Care for an Aging Parent

As your parents or other elderly loved ones get older, their needs will become increasingly challenging. While choosing a nursing home is an option, a growing number of people are electing to move their parents into their homes with the assistance of home care agents. If you have considered all of the choices and decided that moving your aging parent into your home is the best choice, you should know what changes and adjustments you can expect. 

Changes in Your Family Roles

While deciding to move your parent into your home is rewarding, tensions could arise due to the shift in family roles. When your previously independent parent becomes increasingly dependent on you, you will have less time for yourself and your family; your work schedule may need to change, and the children may be required to take on some additional household responsibilities. One way to minimize these changes is by using a home care agent to assist with the overall care of your parent.

Physical Alterations to Your Home

Your home will need to accommodate any health problems your parent may have, such as vision or mobility challenges. One great way to get started is by checking with a home care agency for a home assessment. The home care agency can make suggestions for modifications, such as ramps, grab bars, or even accessory dwelling units.

Overall Lifestyle Changes

You and your parent will more than likely have different lifestyles, including preferences of food, sleep cycles, social interests, and noise tolerance levels. In any case, there are several facets that may need to be adjusted for a happy transition. If you start to feel your parent’s needs are too much, give yourself a break. Ask family members to assist you or seek help from a home care agency. Caregivers at a home care agency such as Neighborly Home Care will come to your home to help with your senior loved one’s needs. The assistance can be on a regular recurring basis of just a few hours up to 24-hour care.

Financial Considerations

As a part of the transition, you will more than likely become involved in your loved one’s finances. Use the following tips to make this process more manageable:

• Discuss all financial arrangements with your siblings to get them involved. Altered work hours, increased medical spending and food consumption can impact your finances more than you imagine. Planning for siblings or other family members to contribute could ease financial worries.
• Reach an agreement of the amount, if any, your parent will provide for common living expenses, such as rent, food, and any other costs.
• Use Personal Care Agreements, which are legal documents designed to enumerate any payment your parent makes to you regarding your caregiving services. While talking about these issues may be uncomfortable, having things settled in advance will help avoid conflict later.
• Ensure Advance Directives, Durable Powers of Attorney, and all other legal documents are in order.
• In the event you must reduce your work hours, you should understand the impact it will have on your job and finances, including retirement, insurance, and Social Security benefits.

When moving your parent into your home, consider all of the possible conflicts and issues so you can strategically plan for the move and make it as smooth as possible for everyone. In this process, you will find helpful suggestions and solutions by consulting the experts at Neighborly Home Care. They are leading providers of senior home care in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware County.

Next month, join us as we discuss “Where to find money (and resources) for home care.”