No one wants to think about the day that their parents will reach an age in which they can no longer care for themselves. It’s a difficult transition that many adult children face, but one that can be made more smoothly when you take time to consider your options before the time comes to decide. While you want to provide the best possible care for your loved one, it can be challenging to balance their needs with your other responsibilities in life. In this article, we go over some options to consider when your elderly parents can no longer care for themselves.

Assisted Living

Deciding to move your elderly parent into an assisted living facility can feel like a big leap, but there are several benefits such as hands-on assistance with daily living tasks and social activities with other residents. 

While this option might be a good choice for elderly parents who do not want the responsibility of being a homeowner any longer, it can be challenging to age in an unfamiliar environment away from their own community. Many seniors feel that living in an assisted living facility is a loss of their own independence and personalized care needs. 

Move Your Parents in With You

Studies show that nearly 17% of adults living in the United States are caregivers for an adult age 50 or older and that family caregivers tend to spend about 26% of their time on providing care. Before considering the option of moving your elderly parents into your home, consider the level of care that they will need, the added cost of moving another individual into your home, and how this living situation would impact relationships between members of your family.

It’s important to be realistic about what you can do for your aging parents in the role of a family caregiver. Nearly 50% of family caregivers report feeling concerned about the negative mental and physical health effects of the strain of being a caregiver, and only 4 in 10 caregivers would consider their health to be “excellent or very good.” 

Keep Your Parents at Home

Another option for elderly parents that are no longer able to take care of themselves is non-medical in-home care, an option that 75% of people ages 50 and above say that they would prefer. In-home care allows your parents to age comfortably in their own home and closely connected to their friends, family, and community while also receiving the personalized one-on-one care that they need to safely perform activities of daily living. Many aging adults prefer in-home care because it allows them to retain their independence, and adult children can rest assured knowing that their elderly parents are safe and cared for.

At HomeSpark, we provide non-medical, in-home care services for your aging loved one with empathy and compassion. We offer companionship, personal care, meal preparation, transportation, and respite care services while also helping your loved one take care of regular household duties. Contact our team today to learn more about our trustworthy care and to create a customized care plan to meet your elderly parents’ needs.