Living with an Older Loved One

When an older loved one begins having trouble living on their own, one of the most commonly used solutions to helping them live a safe and healthy life is to have them move in with you, or vice versa. This can be a great solution to a difficult situation, but simply moving in together is not going to fix some of the bigger issues that may be at play.

 

It’s also important to remember that there are a lot of emotional difficulties that will arise during this time. Seeing a loved one in failing health is never easy. Different people handle these things in different ways, but stress can sometimes lead to poor decision making. Adding financial issues into the equation can exacerbate the complexity here. For example, if you are downsizing from two family homes to one when your mom moves in with you, the stress of needing to sell a house can be extraordinary. No one wants to be a poor caregiver, but the day to day challenges that providing care brings, along with the rest of life, can sometimes lead to a lesser quality of care than what we want for the people that we love.

 

It is possible to provide great care to an elderly loved one within your own home. The majority of people are not well equipped to do so, either because of how their home is laid out or because of a lack of training to meet the needs that your loved one might have. A great caregiver can help you to better ensure that your parent or grandparent is truly getting the care that they deserve within the home.

 

One way to remedy the issue is to hire a professional caregiver to step in and help with the day to day tasks. This isn’t the best option for everyone, but for many, it can be. Not everyone knows a lot about emergency preparation and how the health needs of elderly individuals differ from the health needs of younger people. While there will always be a definite level of love and compassion from family members, sometimes the caring know-how is lacking. A professional caregiver can help to bridge this gap and make sure that the people you love are getting the attention and assistance that they deserve.

 

Helping a loved one to live on their own can be a valuable experience for families.

 

A trained caregiver has the background and experience to help resolve this problem before it begins. After all, that is why you hire a professional in other areas of your life, isn’t it?

 

Think about it like this: about 70 percent of those that are 65 years or older will need some sort of long term care in their lifetime. That number is up 20 percent from where it was ten years ago. As the U.S. population ages and healthcare improves to help boost the quality of life that we live, people will live longer. As a result, senior care becomes more likely to be needed. Having a professional caregiver that you know and trust will be a great asset for your family.

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