Is it Time for Your Loved Ones to Leave Their Homes?

When the person who raised you, someone you’ve always looked up to, someone you love, begins to struggle at home, it is a painful and surreal experience. But when it happens, it’s up to your family to make important decisions about senior care.

When your parent, or another elderly relative, can no longer manage basic aspects of daily life, like grocery shopping, preparing meals, or bathing and getting dressed, it can have a detrimental effect on their quality of life. Over time, it may eventually put their health and safety at risk.

At this point, one of the biggest decisions families face is whether or not their loved one is still able to live at home. Families are often left wondering if it would be best for their loved one to move into a family member’s home, assisted living facility, or nursing home.

Common Concerns About Senior Care

Many factors should be considered as you strive to make the best choice for your family member. Some of the most significant senior care concerns families grapple with include:

• Cost of care
  Many families are unfamiliar with the full cost of different senior care options. Understanding the costs associated with at-home care, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities is an essential first step. You’ll also need to have tough discussions about what level of care your family can afford.

• Your loved one’s safety at home
  Concern for a loved one’s safety is what drives many families to consider professional senior care. If you’re unsure if your loved one is able to live safely at home, then having a senior care professional assess their home can help you come to a decision.
  This home care assessment can provide a clear sense of how feasible it is for your loved one to remain at home. It can also identify areas of concern and potential risks, such as the likelihood of a fall. An assessment can also identify possible improvements that can make the home safer, like bathtub rails or additional lighting.

• The complex emotions surrounding senior care
  If you’re looking into senior care, you don’t need to be told how fraught this process can be, both for your loved one and your family as a whole. For seniors, the prospect of leaving the home and community they love can be devastating. For many adult children, there may be feelings of intense guilt about this potential step.

Ultimately, though, your family must face the reality of your loved one’s condition and make the best choice for their continued safety and quality of life. But as isolated and overwhelmed as you may feel at this moment, your family doesn’t have to tackle this choice alone.

Visiting Angels Can Help You Make the Best Choice

From clarifying the costs of care to providing a safety assessment for your loved one, the care professionals at your local Visiting Angels© office can help you make the most informed choice about your loved one’s situation.

In addition, we offer flexible home care services that enable seniors to remain safely and comfortably in their homes, even in the face of mobility issues or cognitive decline. These services range from personal care for day-to-day tasks to more complex care, dementia, end of life, and palliative care.

We work with families to create customized senior care plans and schedules that are flexible and affordable. With our hourly services and 24/7 home care services, we can build a plan that will meet your loved one’s needs within your budget, enabling them to create more precious memories in their home.