Before World War II, it was common in American households to have several generations living under one roof. This created an opportunity for parents to work while grandparents took responsibility for child care, allowing everyone to save money on things like housing. Today, many adult children are making the choice to return to this style of living, either for economic reasons or to care for aging parents who are unable to care for themselves. However, this move could come with some unanticipated surprises if you’re not prepared or haven’t provided home care before. Here’s a list of things to consider before packing your parent’s bags.
Aging Parents Can’t Always Be Babysitters
If child care is one of the reasons you’re considering moving an aging parent into your home, you may want to think again. While your parent may claim he or she is up to the task, he or she may not be able to run, lift, or otherwise care for younger children when needed. It’s important to consider the potential risks—for your parent and your children—before asking your loved one to care for your rambunctious kids.
Children Will Learn about Mortality
If you’re in a home with young children, moving your aging parent in will put your kids in a situation where they could learn some difficult lessons about the fragility of life firsthand. This may mean watching the introduction of life-saving medical equipment, or it could be watching a grandparent receive palliative care. Be prepared to have this delicate conversation with your children before the time comes.
It’s important to assess your parent’s health and wellbeing before moving him or her into your home. If your loved one needs help aging in place, consider arranging for professional in-home care. Home care service professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.
You May End Up Caring for Two Generations
There may come a time when you become the primary caregiver for both your children and your parent if you don’t have help from other family members or a professional caregiver. Though this may be something you’re prepared for, know it will take a large toll on your time and energy levels and could easily lead to a decrease in your own health if you haven’t scheduled occasional respite care services.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Richmond homecare provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care Richmond is here to help.
You’ll Have an Opportunity to Grow Closer
Living together under one roof is a great way for your children and your parent to get to know one another in a deeper, more meaningful way. A grandparent can offer your children the gift of wisdom, and children offer a youthful energy that’s good for the soul. The opportunity to strengthen family relationships can be life-changing for you, your children, and your aging parent.
In-Home Caregivers Can Help
As you can see, living with an aging parent can have its ups and downs. However, when you have help from a qualified professional caregiver, living with an elderly parent can become much easier and more enjoyable. If your parent is at the point where he or she is no longer able to live independently, you have a couple of different options. You could move in with him or her and hire an hourly caregiver for occasional in-home help and respite care, or you could opt for live-in caregivers who are available 24/7 to help your parent age at home safely and independently.
Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a trusted provider of respite care Richmond seniors can depend on. To learn about our quality-assured services, give us a call at (804) 600-0002 today.
