Which Type of Care Is Right For Your Parents

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Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash

Getting older is an inevitable part of life. For most of us, there will come a time when we need more help when it comes to our health and mobility. If you have an elderly parent or parents, then you may need to be involved with helping to arrange this care. 

It can be quite a jarring experience to find yourself being responsible for your own parents. This reversal of roles can bring with it mixed emotions. There are a lot of misconceptions and myths around elder care and even elder abuse in some facilities. However, there are nursing home abuse attorneys you can trust to represent the interests of residents should this be required. 

Knowing your parent’s needs and wishes, along with the pros and cons of each type of care can help you to make the right decision for your family. 

Caring for them yourself

You may want to support your parents by caring for them yourself, either in their home or by having them move into yours. Of course, being able to do this depends on a lot of other factors such as where you live, how big your home is, your career and family commitments as well as the type of care they will need. If your parents just need general help with everyday activities, this is much easier than trying to provide round-the-clock care for a particular illness. 

At-home care

Your parents may wish to stay on their own property for as long as possible. There are ways in which this can be achieved. A home help service can assist with basic needs. This involves someone visiting the house a number of times a week (or even daily) and helping with certain tasks such as dressing, medication, shopping, or physio. More more complex care needs, a live-in carer or full-time caring team who work in shifts can provide medical care in the home. This is provided by trained and licensed professionals. 

There are a number of agencies that provide specialist home carers. Some will specialize in more complex care needs and may even have experience in caring for people with dementia or similar conditions. 

Nursing home

If your parents have significant care needs, then a care home setting might be the best option. This ensures that they receive round-the-clock care, access to doctors and nurse practitioners. Care homes also provide much-needed social activities to their residents. Keeping active physically and mentally is very important as you get older is just as important as other aspects of care. 

Retirement community

Retirement communities are very popular with many older people. They are specialist villages or gated communities that provide housing, entertainment, and medical facilities. 

Depending on the particular community, residents can live completely independently, or with the help of the medical and care services on site. Many people move to these communities after retirement when they are in good health and then call upon the additional services as and when needed. 

Retirement communities can be a fantastic place to develop a healthy social life and retirement. Many have scenic, landscaped grounds, gyms, spas, golf courses, cinemas, and restaurants. 

There are retirement communities in every state but competition for spaces can mean that there is a waiting list. 

How to choose which care option is right for your parents

Making these decisions can be complicated for you, your parents, and your wider family. You need to decide, along with your health care provider, your care needs and how they can best be met. 

Of course, another important factor is the financial cost of care. You’ll need to look at any insurance plans your parents have to see what kind of care this provides for them. If they are self-funding or entitled to government help, then there are going to be a lot of administrative hoops to jump through to put the right kind of care in place. 

If you are planning on caring for them yourself, make sure you apply for any grants or payments you are entitled to as their primary carer. This can remove some of the financial burdens of having to leave your job or cut back on your hours.  

Key points

If your parents need help in planning this next stage of their lives, then it can seem very confusing when you’re looking at all of the options open to you. It’s best to get as much help as you can from any medical professionals and social workers. Let their experience guide you to help you make the best choice