You may want to consider taking in your elderly parents if they cannot continue living on their own. If you and your loved ones are considering this option, how do you determine if it is the best fit? Just think about the following questions for a while.
How much in-home care would your elderly parent require?
Think about your parent’s mental and Personal Health Care before deciding to provide home care for them. Are they generally well and need little in the way of care? If this is the case, having them move in may allow them to spend more time with other family members.
Sometimes, though, a crisis or a health problem serves as a trigger for the change. Caregivers have several responsibilities, but one of the most important is determining whether or not any medical attention is required. This may include monitoring pain levels, keeping track of prescriptions, and monitoring chronic diseases.
It’s important to consult your parents’ doctor and other healthcare providers before providing at-home care for them. Consider whether or not you can handle your parent’s physical or mental disabilities. Be ready for memory loss or cognitive impairment by familiarising yourself with typical dementia behaviours.
How much direct help and supervision are you able to offer?
The following factors should be taken into account while deciding if this change is right for you and your loved ones:
- Take into account your time constraints and needs. Do you feel comfortable assisting your parent in the middle of the night if they need to use the restroom?
- Take the initiative and ground the truth. Can you tell me if your parent’s illness worsens over time? Have you considered if you will have the resources to continue providing care in the future?
- Recognize your capabilities and constraints. Do you feel at ease helping your parent with ADLs like showering and getting dressed if they require assistance? Could you and your family benefit from extra support during the day?
Think about your past interactions to see if you can handle the role reversal and cohabitation in the same house.
- How is your relationship with your elderly relative?
- How well do you get over disagreements?
- If you already share a close relationship, will moving in together deepen it or strain it?
- How effective is the dialogue between you two Result?
