Caring for Aging Relatives in Their Home ? Part 2 - Elder Care Cafe

In a previous post we talked about the decisions a family must make when they realize their loved one needs additional care. The family should gather to discuss important issues and make decisions based on the needs of the loved on and the needs and ability of family members.

In this second article discussing the question regarding whether relatives can handle the in home care required, we will discuss the support team the aging senior(s) will need when they stay in their own home. It takes a village to keep seniors safe and sound, even when they have?lived in their home for a long time.

First of all, there are certain situations to consider when both parents are still alive and at an advanced age. People are living well into their nineties now and it is conceivable that both your mom and dad will do so. That will open up a whole new set of challenges for family members to have two people to care for rather than just one. Some adult children are finding they have seniors on both the wife and the husband?s side of the family requiring care. That puts an unimaginable strain on a marriage.

As they work through the process of getting care for their family member, what families soon learn is that it takes a team to fully support the elderly. Here are a few of the team members they may want to consider.

Primary care physician. He or she is the first level support and someone you will want to get to know. The primary physician can usually direct you to a myriad of community resources that will make your job as a caregiver much easier. Sometimes they may direct you to one resource, and from there a whole group of options open up. Take advantage of every bit of information you can get so that you can make informed decisions.

In-home care support. Aides and sometimes nursing staff will visit a home on a regular basis depending on the need and to assess the situation. They will discuss with the family what support they offer and what the senior needs, and make informed decisions from the information they receive. Some of the duties they perform have to do with direct patient care, while others help provide respite for the caregiver.

Outside help. Some areas, at least in the United States, have senior centers that will pick up your loved one and take them to a facility where they can spend time with other seniors, eat healthy meals ? usually breakfast and lunch, and see health care workers who will assess their current physical, mental and emotional condition. Staff doctors can prescribe drugs and other items the senior may need.

Family members. The amount of support the elder or the family members need depends on the level of care the senior requires. At the very least, someone should be available to make sure the person is able to get out of bed in the morning, eats healthy meals, and is able to wash and clothe themselves. If they become bedridden, further decisions must be made as to their care.

Additional outside help. Depending on whether the senior is living alone or a caregiver is living in the home as well, they may need someone to clean house, purchase and deliver groceries at least once a week, and perform other in-home care. When the caregiver is a family member, they often have a full time job and must continue with their work hours in order to support the senior and themselves, and pay the bills. That puts an added stress on the caregiver, who then may need to seek the help of others as mentioned above in order to keep food in the refrigerator and the house in good order.

Family members should also consider who will take care of the yard, snow removal, and maintenance issues if the senior(s) is living in their own home. If they are living in an apartment, the level of need for outside help is not as great.

There are a great many decisions family members need to make as their parents age. This article only addresses the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number of questions that will need to be answered and the amount of resource that is available to seniors depending on where they live. Due diligence in researching and seeking answers to the questions will help everyone involved provide the best care possible to those in need.

You can find part one of Caring for Aging Relatives in Their Home by clicking on this link.

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Source: http://www.eldercarecafe.net/caring-for-aging-relatives-in-their-home-part-2/

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