Taking over your parent’s care signals a new chapter in your relationship as well as a shift in your parent’s life, which can be challenging to adjust to. In addition, providing care involves a great deal of effort, sacrifice, and time, making it a huge responsibility. It’s important to know when to intervene and to put limits on what your parent can require and what you can manage.
By helping you into the new role as a caregiver, the advice provided in this article seeks to ease the transition for adult children caregivers.
Knowing When Your Parents Need Elderly Care
Family members may become caregivers for a parent for a variety of reasons, such as a parent’s steady decline in health, an unexpected medical emergency, the emergence of new health concerns, a new diagnosis or course of treatment, etc. Each family may have this understanding at a different moment and for various reasons—that it’s time for adult children to take charge and enlist their parents’ assistance.
Having said that, it’s crucial to be engaged in your parent’s daily activities as they age for you to detect any subtle changes in their routines or behaviors. If you notice a change in your parent’s routine, you may be able to intervene or arrange for care for them.
An example of a pattern shift would be elderly parents missing out on friend dates, failing to pay bills on time, forgetting to schedule a doctor’s visit, etc. The more involved you are, the more adept you will be at seeing warning signs that indicate your parent needs help.
Tips to Ensure Success as a Caregiver
Setting expectations, doing your research, and realizing the consequences of your actions are crucial before taking on this new role as a family caregiver.
Set Expectations
You and your parent must discuss your expectations for this relationship and your boundaries before you start taking care of your aging parent. There are two parts to this procedure since it involves a significant adjustment in both of your lives.
When dealing with your aging or elderly parent, use compassion and patience. It’s difficult for you both to accept that they are not the same as they once were, so take the time to acknowledge it. Tell them you’re supporting them and are only attempting to assist them in their time of need—not trying to push your agenda.
You must comprehend your parent’s care objectives as well. Ask your parents questions, such as who they would want to be their power of attorney if they are unable to make choices for themselves if you haven’t already. Verify that they have completed an advanced directive as well. Although these discussions might be difficult, your parents have undoubtedly considered it. You or your parent must discuss this with a provider, social worker, or lawyer as each state has different rules on what constitutes an advance directive.
Informing them of the caregiving responsibilities you feel comfortable and uneasy about is another method to set expectations. For instance, you could feel at ease assisting them with household chores and food preparation, but if they require medical attention, you might want to consider the services of Amazing Home Care.
However, understanding and comprehending all of the facets of a caregiver’s duties is crucial to knowing what you’re willing to and aren’t prepared to undertake.
The Physical Aspects of Providing Care
Being a caregiver has so many diverse aspects that most individuals are unaware of how these obligations change over time. To properly transition into this chapter, you must first understand what a parent needs help with, what you can do to help, and how to create an action plan to get things started.
Accommodations
Selecting the place for care is one of the first stages in providing for an elderly parent. Should the adult child want to take on the role of caretaker, they may choose to live with their parents or have them move in.
A nursing home, assisted living facility, independent living community, or senior living community are all excellent choices to consider. Ask a social worker or your local agency on aging, for assistance if you need it to navigate this challenging process.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Being able to assess your parent’s capacity to meet basic physical and mental demands is one of the many advantages of participating in their daily activities. ADLs consist of, but are not restricted to:
- Feeding themselves
- General ease of movement and functionality (e.g., sitting, drinking water, moving in and out of bed)
- Dressing up
- Regularly taking a shower or bath
- Maintaining routines for personal hygiene (shaving, brushing teeth, hair, etc.)
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
IADLs are significant components of independent functioning, even though they are not necessary essential elements of life. These pursuits might involve, but are not restricted to:
- Preparing and cooking food every day
- Cleaning or maintaining their house regularly
- Carrying out errands, such as shopping, receiving mail, etc
- Making timely bill payments
- Communicating with people via the phone or through other technological means
- Taking prescription drugs as directed (e.g. medicine for high blood pressure medication).
Financial Guidance
As parents get older, they could want your intervention to help them manage their money. Financial support might take the form of managing medical appointments and ensuring insurance plans are current, organizing and paying payments, or contacting local or state services for care coordination.
Safety
It’s critical to make sure parents’ houses are free of risks as they get older. Simple modifications or changes to help older persons avoid falling include, but are not limited to:
- Removing any carpets, cables, and other obstructions from shared passageways
- Installing grab bars for extra assistance in restrooms and along staircases.
- Putting in more accessible light switches and better lighting in every area
- Ensuring that the appliances are reachable and in working order.
- Reducing the need for stepstools or your aging parents bending down
- Getting them an emergency contact service