In-Home Care for an Aging Loved One
Posted by Justin Phillips on Wed, May 05, 2010
Coping with eldercare issues will affect most of us at one time or another. It’s become an unfortunate hallmark of our generation. In fact, we are often called the "sandwich generation" because we find ourselves responsible for the care of our own children on one side, and our aging parents on the other. The result can be a nightmare of stress and financial insecurity which compromises our productivity, numbs our senses and diminishes our capacity to enjoy our own lives.
Anyone with elderly parents knows the questions that run through our mind: How long can Mom stay on her own? Where will she go? What can we afford? What resources are available? I don’t understand the options! What will happen to her assets?
Change Waits for No One
For most people, the worry of eldercare comes on suddenly after an accident or illness, and they find it necessary to move quickly with little preparation. They have no feeling for the scope of the problems, no knowledge of community or governmental resources, and no expertise in judging a parent's ability to live safely. And usually, they have no idea where to turn for help.
Children of failing parents often have to make choices regarding:
• Immediate and future needs
• Changing medical needs, diagnosis and prognosis
• Financial options regarding how to pay for care
• Directives, Power-of-Attorney, & Medicaid issues
• Taking care of responsibilities a parent used to handle independently
• In-Home Care Is Often the Right Choice
The need for care is often immediate and navigating the maze of information and options for developing a care plan can’t over-ride the need for your loved one’s condition and needs. In-home care is often the right choice, especially at the beginning of a parent’s decline. A high-quality, credible, and trusted in-home care provider will often do an assessment and evaluation with a plan-of-action for today – and tomorrow. Good providers will often look at the “big picture” and design a care plan that runs the entire continuum of care.
Providing in-home care for your loved ones not only takes a lot of tension off of you, but it also helps make for an easier transition as independent living begins to be compromised. Studies have shown that people live happier and better in their own surroundings rather than in a hospital or nursing home. And, staying home longer is also easier on your budget as the cost of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities can be enormous.
Help With Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Another reason for senior home care professional help is that many elderly people need help with personal care issues like bathing, grooming and dressing. Some may have Alzheimer’s disease; others may have had a serious stroke and need professional care for some or all the activities of daily living (ADLs). These types of senior parents need the love of the family around at all times, but also need professional senior home care as well. Some in-home care providers are available to live in your home either as full-time or part-time care givers, and this can be a tremendous help in easing the burden.
Children and families want to take care of their elderly parents, but simply do not have the knowledge or time that is required to take care of them. Calling a senior home care professional service is a great step to help avoid the nightmare of eldercare while giving you peace-of-mind knowing that your loved one has capable care and the best quality of life possible. Choosing in-home care does give a gift of freedom to your loved ones, and we as their children should help take care of them in their time of need, just as they took care of us when we needed it the most.
There is help, there is hope, always.