Dr. Eboni Green
April 30, 2021
Aging is an inevitable and gradual process. There are positive changes that occur as one ages. For example, wisdom is a positive attribute that many elders possess. Of course, there are disease processes that are not a normal part of aging that you may see as your parents age. Perhaps your parent’s mental state is not as sharp as it used to be, or maybe their joints and muscles are resulting in mobility problems. Or your parent may need assistance to accomplish everyday activities. Some maybe they have reached a point where they are reliant on assistance from an in-home caregiver.
It can be difficult for both you and your parent come to terms with the impact that chronic disease has on their everyday life. You will want to be prepared should your parent require assistance. The following are two tips that you may find helpful as you support your parent’s needs:
One of the most difficult things to understand is what your parents want when it comes to elder care and assistance. It’s best to understand the differences between home care and a care home and also ask your parents what they’d prefer. Even though your parents might need support to accomplish some normal activities, they might want to receive care services in the home. In fact, most elders prefer to stay home and have service providers come to the place that they call home.
You may find that your parent is resistant to care in the home. It is important that you remember your parent is not necessarily trying to be stubborn or difficult. Your parent’s resistance may relate to making the mental adjustment of both needing and then accepting help. Working through challenges with your parent who is resistant to accepting help can be extremely distressing. However, one way to work through resistance is to highlight how accepting help can improve both you and your parent’s overall well-being or health. Together you and your parent might research senior care nurses that can provide at-home support so you are both involved in the decision making process.
No two people are the same when it comes to senior care. Some people might prefer to have someone that can help them with their activities of daily living (ADL’s), while others might just need a bit of assistance getting around and to perform day-to-day activities such as gardening. As such, you may not need a medical professional to help you. Rather, a better option might be hiring services like a maid, a gardener, or a non- medical companion service.
Another alternative is to have your parent move into your home. Perhaps your parent might decide to sell their own home and move in with you or one of your siblings. This economical option as the sale or rental of their previous home could provide an extra source of income for the entire family. Another benefit is that the entire family can benefit from the wisdom and companionship of having a parent or grandparent living in the home.
In short, it is best to speak to your parents to determine their care preferences. The good news is there are a variety of options available to you and your parents.
