Many caregivers decide to move their senior parents into their homes instead of allowing them to live alone or move into assisted living facilities. The option of providing care at home is a benefit for both seniors and their caregivers. Here are some of the steps family caregivers should take before moving an aging loved one in.
1. Get Your Family’s Opinion & Approval
Make sure your spouse and children are okay with the move. Ask for everyone’s opinions, and consider their wishes when making your final decision. You can develop a plan that everyone will agree upon, which could make the transition easier.
Families who need help caring for senior loved ones can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of at-home care. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
2. Learn More about Your Parent’s Healthcare Needs
If you’re not familiar with your loved one’s current health condition, it’s a good idea to learn as much about the condition as possible. You can also enlist the help of medical providers who can give you tips and advice that simplify the caregiving process. Make sure to anticipate future health conditions, even if your loved one is in good shape, which you can base on medical suggestions from doctors and nurses, past family health conditions, and your loved one’s personal medical history.
3. Develop a Schedule
Some seniors are relatively healthy and can contribute to their own care, while others will need a lot of assistance throughout the day. Once you know what type of care your loved one needs, develop a schedule that works best for you and your family. Your spouse and children may be able to assist with things such as laundry, meal prep, and companionship. Having a schedule can make caregiving less chaotic once your loved one moves into the home.
4. Make Senior-Friendly Changes to the Home
Some seniors have difficulty walking up stairs, which is why you should consider placing your loved one’s bedroom on the first floor. If that isn’t possible, look at affordable changes you can make to the home, such as installing an automatic chair lift, installing grab bars, adding night lights in the hallways, removing traditional rugs and throws, and giving your loved one a personal area within the home in addition to a bedroom.
Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality in-home care. Lincoln families trust Home Care Assistance to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably.
5. Ask for Help
Regardless of how much time you have to spare, you may still need to rely on assistance from individuals who don’t live in your home, including your siblings. If your family members can’t commit to helping out with your loved one’s care needs, hire a professional caregiver. An in-home caregiver can take some of the responsibility off of you without compromising your loved one’s care.
Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is respite care. Lincoln families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation. Home Care Assistance will work with you to customize a care plan that’s just right for your loved one’s needs. Call us today at (916) 226-3737 to discuss how we can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved one is being cared for with professionalism and compassion.