Caring For Elderly Parents - In-Home Care Decisions

Caring for Elderly Parents

There comes a time in most of our lives when adult children find themselves responsible for their parent's well being. This usually happens when the parents have exhibited behavior that proves they can no longer able to take care of themselves.

Nursing Homes

For some people, the care of an elderly parent means selecting the best possible nursing home. The advantage to putting a parent in a nursing home is that they will receive round the clock professional care, and that the nursing home will have everything they could possibly need.

The disadvantage to nursing homes is that the facilities and people are unfamiliar which can sometime stress the elderly to the point that their overall health deteriorates. Also, nursing homes are very expensive and many families simply can't afford them.

In Home Care

For people who don't feel a nursing home is a viable choice, they can choose to move their elderly parent into their own home.

A great deal of preparation, both mentally and environmentally must be done before a family brings their elderly parent to live with them. Families need to prepare for is arguments. By nature people tend to resist being taken care of, and most people really don't like the idea of their children being burdened by them. This often leads to outburst and arguments that can leave everyone feeling hurt and helpless. The best thing a family can do is try to stay calm. It doesn't hurt to find tasks that the parents can do so that they can still feel like they are a help rather than a hindrance. Most people are healthier, mentally and physically, when they have something to keep their mind active.

Before moving their parent into their home, adult children need to spend some time researching their parent's condition. The more they know about what to expect as their parent's mental and/or physical state deteriorates, the better able everyone will be able to prepare for things.

Another thing adult children need to consider before moving an elderly parent into their home is how much care the parent is going to need, and whether or not the adult children will be able to provide it. If the parent needs round the clock care, the family might need to consider hiring a part-time, in-home nurse.

One of the things that many people learn after moving their elderly parent into their home, is that caring for the parent often involves a great deal more than making sure they get enough to eat. Most of the elderly have mobility problems and need to be helped out of bed and off of chairs. At first this doesn't seem like it will be a problem, but after a while it can become tiresome. Lift chairs are products that can help the entire family retain their humor and mobility. Lift chairs are a step beyond the average household recliner. The seat of the chair tips to a 45 degree angle, making it easier to stand the person on their own feet.

Lift chairs have been beneficial to people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's, Alzheimer disease, poor circulation, arthritis, and numerous other ailments and conditions.