Caring for an aging parent can be a difficult task, and there are many things that you should consider when your parent moves into your home. We at Carefect Home Care Services fully understand that there are many things that family caregivers should consider when taking in an elderly parent and would like to share a list of tips to help make the process go as smoothly as possible.

Before your aging parents move into your home, you should take a few things into consideration. The first thing to consider is whether or not you have the space in your home for them to move in. Many seniors need special accommodations in their homes to allow them to live comfortably. If you have a house with all of the bedrooms upstairs and your loved ones cannot access the stairs on their own then this can be a potential problem. Many seniors also prefer to have their own bedroom and bathroom when moving in with their children. Having to give up their home and independence can be a difficult task, but it can be a little easier for them if they at least have their own space at your house. You should consider whether or not your house has a room that is suitable for your parent without requiring you or your children to give up their room for your parent to move in. If the house does not have enough rooms but you have a basement, you can consider converting the basement into a room for one of your children or your parent. You should not force your children out of their room and into the basement, but if they do not mind a converted basement bedroom then that can potentially give them a bigger and more private space and you can use their room for your parent. If your child’s bedroom is upstairs and your room is downstairs and you have a parent in a wheel chair, you might have to consider giving up your own room for them. This can often cause disputes between couples if one spouse does not want to give up their room for the other spouse’s parent. If you cannot work past this issue, you can always consider looking for a new home with two bedrooms on the main floor or a one story house. Providing your parent with their own bathroom can also be a good idea for those with children of their own because most teenagers will not be too excited about sharing a bathroom with their elderly grandparents, especially if you have to install grab bars around the tub or toilet.

Next, you should consider the amount of care that your elderly parents will need. If your parents need around the clock care that you are unable to provide, you will have to decide whether you want to place them in a nursing home or hire private care to come to your house and take care of your elderly parents. If you decide to move your parents in and hire someone to come and take care of them you will have to also consider whether or not they need live-in care or just occasional caregivers visits. If your elderly loved ones cannot do anything on their own and need someone there with them all the time then you might want to consider a different option where they stay in their own home with a live-in caregiver such as the ones that we provide at Carefect Home Care Services, so that both your elderly parents and the live-in caregiver will have their own space. If you think that you are capable of taking care of your loved one on your own or with occasional caregiver’s visits you should make sure that when you are away from your loved ones they have something to do. Before leaving for the day make sure that your parents have easy access to anything they will need for the day such as food, towels, toiletries, and other necessities so that they will be able to take care of themselves in your absence.

The last thing to consider is your financial situation. If you have a suitable home and are able to provide your senior parents with care, you also need to make sure that you can afford to have them living there. If you are constantly struggling to make ends meet you might not be able to afford feeding another person every day or paying for a private caregiver to visit. If you have siblings, you can ask them for financial assistance since you are offering space in your home for your aging parents. Addressing all of these issues before moving your parents in is a great way to make sure that the process is successful. If you need any help after moving your parent in, there are plenty of homecare services, such as our services at Carefect Home Care Services that are designed to provide you with the help you need taking care of your elderly loved ones.

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