When and How to Get Help Taking Care of Elderly Parents at Home
Caring for aging parents at home can be challenging. You want to ensure they stay safe, healthy, and comfortable, but balancing their needs with your own responsibilities isn’t easy. At some point, finding help for elderly parents may become necessary—not just for their well-being but also for yours.
If you’re feeling exhausted or unsure where to turn for help with aging parents. Whether your loved one needs support for a few hours a week or more consistent long-term care, professional in-home care can help your aging parents live safely and comfortably at home.
But how do you know when it’s time to get help taking care of elderly parents? And what type of care is best for you and your loved one?
In this article, you’ll learn how to recognize when you need help with elderly parents at home, what caregiving options are available, and where to turn for compassionate, reliable care.
4 Signs It’s Time to Get Help Taking Care of Elderly Parents
As a family caregiver, you want to do everything you can to support your aging parents. But over time, your loved ones' needs may increase, and you might start feeling stretched thin. Many family caregivers wait until they’re completely overwhelmed before finding help caring for elderly parents.
However, getting support early can ease your burden and ensure your loved one receives the best possible care. Below are four signs that it might be time to seek professional care for your aging family member.
1. You’re Feeling Burned Out or Overwhelmed
Caring for aging parents at home is physically and emotionally demanding. If you’re constantly exhausted, neglecting your own health, or feeling stressed and resentful, these are signs of caregiver burnout. Seeking support for your aging senior can give you the break you need to recharge while ensuring your loved one continues to receive quality care.
2. Your Parents’ Needs Are Increasing
As your parents age, their physical or mental health may decline, and they may require increased assistance with activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, meal prep, transportation, etc.). Or, if they develop dementia or a serious medical condition, they might need help in ways you can’t provide. When you’re unable to cater to your parent’s specific needs, it may be time to connect with a trained caregiver.
3. Their Safety Is at Risk
Have there been close calls—like a fall, wandering episode, or medication mishap? Or, perhaps your parents need to help during the nighttime hours getting in and out of bed or to and from the bathroom. If you’re worried about your parent’s safety when you’re not around, bringing in a caregiver can provide peace of mind and help prevent serious accidents.
4. You’re Struggling to Balance Caregiving With Other Responsibilities
If caregiving is interfering with your work, relationships, or personal well-being, it’s a sign that you need extra support. It can be challenging to balance your own needs, the needs of your immediate family (spouse, children, etc.), and aging loved ones. Seeking help with aging parents doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re making sure they receive the best care possible while also maintaining your own quality of life.
Resonating with one or more of these signs may mean it’s time to look into professional care options. In the next section, we’ll explore some of the different ways to ease your caregiver workload while ensuring your parents’ quality of life.
Exploring Professional Care Options for Elderly Adults
Once you realize you need help taking care of elderly parents, the next step is understanding the different types of support available. Every family’s situation is unique, so finding the right level of care depends on you and your loved one’s needs.
Below are some of the most common care options for elderly adults.
Family Support and Informal Caregiving
For some families, relatives and friends can step in to provide some help. This can include preparing meals, running errands, assisting with transportation, or simply offering companionship. However, this type of support is best when your senior needs help that’s minimal and somewhat infrequent. But as your loved one’s needs increase, relying solely on other non-professional caregivers to offer hands-on support probably won’t cut it in the long run.
Respite Care for Family Caregivers
If you’ve been wondering, “Can I get respite care for my mother?” the answer is “yes!”
Reaching out to a professional home care company for respite care is a great way to get a break from caregiving duties. Respite care provides temporary, expert care to your loved one. This type of care can range from a few hours a week to several days at a time, giving you the chance to rest, take care of personal responsibilities, or go on vacation without worrying about your loved one’s well-being.
Assisted Living and Nursing Homes
Does your loved one require more intensive care than you can provide? If so, a question that may come to mind is, “When is it time for assisted living or a nursing home?”
Assisted living facilities provide a structured environment with on-site staff, while nursing homes offer skilled nursing care for seniors with complex medical needs. However, since your loved one’s home is a place of comfort and familiarity, many older adults prefer to remain at home as long as possible. Moving your loved one to an unfamiliar assisted living facility or nursing home may actually be worse for their overall health.
Professional In-Home Care Services
As a family caregiver, you may be feeling the pressure of providing care but may not want to send your elderly loved one to a facility or nursing home. Fortunately, hiring professional caregivers for help with an elderly parent at home can:
Alleviate your caregiver burden
Ensure your elderly parents get quality care
Allow your loved ones to age at home
Expert in-home caregivers know how to help an elderly parent, creating a tailored care plan to fit your parent’s specific needs. Some of the most common home care services include:
Companion Care – Provides social interaction, light housekeeping, and assistance with errands.
Personal Care – Helps with daily activities like bathing, dressing, mobility, and toileting.
Transportation – Trained caregivers can give your loved one rides to and from grocery stores, medical appointments, and social gatherings.
24-Hour Home Care – Offers around-the-clock (night and day) supervision for seniors who need constant assistance.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care – Specialized caregivers provide support for seniors experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline.
With an in-home caregiver caring for your aging parents at home, you can rest assured knowing your loved one’s needs are being met. And as your aging family member’s needs change, so will the level of care the caregiver provides.
Finding In-home Help for Elderly Parents
After reading this article, you may realize that you need help taking care of your elderly parents and that in-home care is the best option.
But how do you know which home care company to go with when your senior needs help?
When searching for help with aging parents, choosing the right in-home care provider is crucial. The quality of care your loved one receives depends on the professionalism, experience, and compassion of the caregivers. As you look around, here are some key qualities to look for in an in-home care provider:
Experienced, compassionate caregivers
Personalized care plans that change with your loved ones' needs
Flexible and reliable services
Strong communication between the company and the families it serves
A reputation for excellence
At Commonwise Home Care, we embody all these qualities, offering the highest standard of in-home support to families and their aging loved ones. Our experienced caregivers provide expert support for family caregivers of elderly parents—from respite care for a few hours each week to dementia care and extended 24-hour care. We also have many other resources for caregivers of elderly parents to help you as you consider the care needs of your aging loved one.
Contact us todayto learn more about how we can relieve your caregiver burden and provide your aging loved one with the in-home care they need.