Support for Caregivers of Aging Parents: Your Guide to Elder Care Solutions
Caring for aging parents can be both rewarding and challenging. But as our loved ones grow older, their needs evolve, often requiring more support and attention than we can provide on our own.
We understand the emotional and practical difficulties you face in ensuring your parents' well-being. Whether you're already caring for older parents at home or exploring elder care options for aging parents, navigating all the available choices can be overwhelming.
Interested in learning more about professional at-home care for aging parents?
Not sure what taking care of older parents at home looks like?
Need more information about different elderly parent care options?
In this blog, we'll explore:
Elder care options for aging parents, such as family members acting as caregivers or nursing homes.
Professional in-home elderly parent care, from understanding what it entails to the specific services available.
The Commonwise Home Care ReadyCare program, the perfect way to start planning and preparing for your aging loved one’s long-term care
As you read, we hope you’ll better understand some of the available resources for elderly parents and feel better equipped to make care decisions.
Elder Care Options for Aging Parents
There are many options to consider when it comes to aging parents and elder care. Here are some of the top ways to provide assistance for aging parents.
1. Family Members as Caregivers
Whether it’s you or someone else in your family, you may choose to have a family member care for your loved one. This option offers several advantages, like providing your loved one with familiarity and comfort while keeping care costs low. It also gives the family more time with the loved one as they age.
However, taking care of elderly parents at home has some disadvantages:
Emotional and Physical Strain: Providing care can be physically demanding and emotionally taxing for family members.
Time Commitment: Balancing caregiving with other personal responsibilities, like work or your own immediate family (spouse, kids, etc.), can be challenging.
Lack of Professional Training: Family members may not have the necessary training to handle complex care needs, such as performing physical therapy or managing medications, especially if the medications involve injections, infusions, or precise timing and dosages.
We don’t want you to feel unequipped if you decide to go this route. Below, we’ve compiled some helpful tips to ease the burden of taking care of senior parents yourself.
Support for Caregivers of Aging Parents
Caring for aging parents can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with significant responsibilities. Here are some caregiver tips to keep in mind if you decide to care for older parents at home by yourself.
1. Recognize and Manage Caregiver Stress: It's important to recognize the signs of caregiver stress and take steps to manage it. These could be:
Extreme tiredness and exhaustion
Frequent headaches
Difficulty thinking or focusing
Increased feelings of anxiety or being overwhelmed
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Negative attitudes or thoughts (resentment, bitterness, anger, etc.) toward others or the loved one you’re caring for
Caring for an elderly loved one is challenging. If you experience any of these, it’s okay. Consider seeking support from friends, family, or professional counselors.
2. Balance Responsibilities: Juggling work, personal life, and caregiving can be challenging. Create a schedule to manage your time effectively and delegate tasks when possible.
3. Don’t Neglect Self Care: Taking care of yourself is crucial. Ensure you get enough rest, eat well, and engage in activities that you enjoy to maintain your well-being.
4. Consider Respite Care: Don’t hesitate to seek help from professional caregivers if the demands of caring for your loved one become overwhelming.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it should provide some initial support if you are trying to handle taking care of senior parents yourself.
2. Assisted Living Facilities
Another option for assistance for aging parents is an assisted living home.
Assisted living facilities provide a supportive community and environment for seniors who need a little help with daily activities but also want some independence. The benefits of assisted living facilities include access to regular social interaction, trained care, and a safe environment.
But some of the cons to consider with an assisted living facility are:
Cost: Assisted living can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
Adjusting to New Surroundings: Moving to an unfamiliar environment and adjusting to new surroundings can be challenging for seniors.
Lack of Intentional, Personal Care: Though there are staff in assisted living facilities to help those who live there, they’re caring for many other people. So, assistance for aging parents doesn’t come with the same level of attention and intentional care as with in-home care.
3. Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are suitable for seniors who require continuous medical supervision and extensive personal care. They offer elderly adults 24/7 medical care, comprehensive services, specialized care, and a safe environment.
However, nursing homes can severely limit your loved one’s sense of independence and can have a large emotional impact on them as well.
We just mentioned three potential options for caring for parents as they age. But there’s one more way to provide elderly adults with experienced, compassionate care: professional in-home care services.
What Is In-home Elderly Parent Care?
Professional at-home care for aging parents involves providing your loved one with personalized assistance and support within the familiar environment of their home. The care is carried out by a trained caregiver who creates a tailored care plan to meet the specific needs of your loved one.
The assistance for aging parents the caregiver will provide will vary based on your loved one’s needs but can include:
Assistance with ADLs (activities of daily living), like bathing, dressing, and grooming
Laundry, cleaning, or other household chores
Transportation services to and from medical appointments, the grocery store, or social gatherings
Medication reminders
Bill pay
Meal prep
Ambulation and transfers
Some home care companies provide 24/7 care or specialized dementia care when needed. But regardless of what level of care your loved one needs initially, the professional caregiver will adjust the care plan to suit your parents’ needs as they change.
With in-home care, your loved one can safely age in their home and maintain their independence while also providing you peace of mind.
Start Preparing for Your Aging Parents and Their Elder Care Today
In this article, we explored various elder care options for aging parents, such as family caregiving, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. Then, we considered professional in-home care—a service that provides your loved one with an expert caregiver so they can age safely and comfortably in their home.
But regardless of what elder care route you think you might take, we believe that caring for aging parents well requires thoughtful planning, preparation, and access to the right resources before your loved one needs extra care. That’s why we developed the ReadyCare program.
The Commonwise Home Care ReadyCare program is a comprehensive resource that aids families in planning for at-home care for aging parents. All the materials are free and include workshops, webinars, one-on-one consultations, and interactive workbooks to help older adults and their families prepare for the future. These resources help families plan effectively by guiding them through crucial decisions about where aging parents should live, who will provide them with care, and what level of care they might need.
By taking advantage of the ReadyCare resources for elderly parents, you can reduce the anxiety associated with senior care planning and feel more confident about your loved one’s long-term care.
Reach out to us today to learn more about who we are and the ReadyCare program.