You have been providing help to your parents off and on, but lately you’re concerned about what is going on when you are not with them. If you think your aging parent may need additional help, you should sit down and talk to your parent about possible choices. Most often you will need to explain what you are seeing and how it is impacting their well-being. This might not be an easy conversation to have with elderly parents, but doing so is imperative before there is a crisis. You may want to enlist support from siblings or other family members for this discussion.
How Do You Know If An Aging Parent Needs Help?
Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Help
Possible red flags for you to be aware of with your aging parents are:
- Weight loss or gain
- Becoming forgetful/Memory loss
- Unexplained bruising, possible trips/falls
- Missing important appointments
- Signs of depression including change in mood, losing interest in hobbies or activities
- Forgetfulness in taking medications / filling prescriptions
- Failing to complete activities of daily living
- Hygiene issues
- House work is not being completed, uncharacteristically cluttered, disorganized and dirty
- Expired food in the pantry/refrigerator, lack of food in the house
- Finances are being neglected / not paying bills
- Lack of communication with friends and family
For adult children, taking care of an older parent tends to bring up different issues that need to be addressed. How will you manage work, children, and other responsibilities while providing ongoing care for your parents health? You may start off with the best intentions but find that it becomes a full-time role as a caregiver for an older adult.
When is Respite Care the Right Choice for an Aging Parent?
Well-intentioned people often inadvertently treat aging loved ones in ways that can threaten their autonomy or dignity or otherwise strain the relationship. It is common for family caregivers to experience relationship challenges with siblings, a caregiving parent, or others who may be involved.
You may need to plan ahead for future declines, emergencies, and end-of-life care. This should reduce later stress, hassles, and sometimes expenses.
Caregiving can be a lonely and isolating job. You may elect to obtain assistance from other family members or an in-home care provider. Many in-home care providers have a range of hours they can assist with. This may allow you to work around your employment, children’s responsibilities, or your own respite care.
Most aging adults prefer to stay at home where they know their surroundings and routine. Allowing them to do so with some care may be the solution. Having someone providing hands-on care and assistance with daily activities when you are away can be a great comfort.
If your parent lives a distance from you and you are contemplating having them come to live with you and your family, be sure to have an honest discussion as a family unit so as not to add stress to the household.
Discussion Points:
- What are the ground rules about privacy and alone-time
- Do you need to set boundaries around cooking and housekeeping
- Are there health problems that could progress, what would the next steps be if staying home isn’t an option
- How will finances be shared (or not)
- Will other family members (siblings for example) be involved with the care
Every situation can be different. Is the spouse supportive especially for a long-term stay? How could this affect the family overall? The discussion needs to occur with the entire family prior to moving the parent.
Communicate
Bottom-line, communication is imperative when dealing with an aging parent. Set up a plan to discuss senior care options and be honest with them. Let them know you are concerned about their well-being. Consider all care options and come prepared to share information about these options. Let them be a part of the decision process if they are capable. Getting their “buy-in” can be a big part of the success in their long-term care.
Promedcare – Respite Care Services in Fremont, Columbus, Norfolk, and Blair, NE
Our goal is to keep you or your loved one healthy, happy, and safe at home. The Promedcare team of management and caregivers understands the importance of providing care within the comfort of one’s own home. Families choose Promedcare for different reasons. For some, it’s to provide extensive ongoing care for an aging senior. For others, we offer a much-needed break or, respite care – such as a night out with a spouse, vacation, or simply a few hours of quiet time at home – for family members who provide regular care. We offer a wide range of care services customized for each individual client.
Promedcare services include Personal Care Services, Companion Care Services, Dementia / Alzheimer’s Care Services, Respite Care Services, and Respiratory Solutions.
Contact us today to see our Prodmedcare can help you!