Four Reasons Why You May Need To Consider A Professional Caregiver
It can be remarkably difficult to decide when it’s time to start considering professional elderly care for your parents. Many of us see it as our responsibility to take care of our parents after they become older and perhaps sick, and in fact, it can be quite difficult to come to terms with a reality in which we don’t do so ourselves. After all, they took care of us when we were younger. Why wouldn’t we return the favor? Unfortunately, the issue is a lot more complex than a simple give and take. It’s estimated that by 2060, the number of Americans age 65 years old and older will make up about 24% of the total population.
While this doesn’t mean that all of them will require living assistance, many probably will as they age. And the unfortunate fact is that many people simply can’t offer 24 hour in home care to their aging parents. But that doesn’t mean you have to consider a nursing home or another type of retirement facility for your parents either. Professional home care services remain an option for elderly people who need assistance with living, and there is plenty that you can do to ensure that your parents receive the best possible care, beyond providing it yourself. Let’s look into some of the reason you may want to consider professional home health care services for your parents.
1. You Want To Avoid A Nursing Home
Unless your parents are incredibly ill and need constant monitoring from medical professionals, there is no need for them to live out of their own homes. While there are plenty of quality retirement facilities, many people feel disoriented and depressed when they are made to leave their homes and move into retirement facilities. For that matter, this can be difficult for families as well, as it essentially means that you’ll only be able to see your parents for a limited time, and cannot dictate as much of their care personally as you may want to. If you want to avoid a retirement facility and cannot provide constant care yourself while at the same time ensuring that your parents get the best care possible, a professional provider of home care services may be the best choice.
2. You Cannot Provide Care Personally
There are a number of reasons why you may not be the best person to offer home health care to your parents. For one thing, you’re probably still working. Giving round the clock home care and working a full time job just isn’t possible, unless giving round the clock home care is in fact your job. Furthermore, it can be difficult to separate yourself emotionally from your parents. Therefore, it will be easier for you and for them to grow frustrated and experience conflict that can come when caregiving. It’s also a major responsibility, and caring for someone who is sick or growing older requires a certain level of medical knowledge that you may not have. Home care services providers are trained to give care, and are simply better equipped.
3. Your Parent Is Experiencing Mental Limitations
If your parent is doing fairly well physically but is struggling mentally, it may be time to call in professional home care services. Leaving a familiar setting is especially difficult for those struggling with cognitive setbacks, and working with a professional home health caregiver means that your parent doesn’t have to deal with that. But you’ll also have the peace of mind of knowing that even if they don’t remember to take their medications, their caregiver will be able to remind them to do so.
4. Your Parent Has Trouble Getting Around
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if your parent’s issues lie more in mobility, you should consider working with a caregiver that can help them rehabilitate and for that matter help them simply get around everywhere from their house or their local community. Your parent will simply have an easier time feeling active to whatever extent they can be active with a caregiver.
No matter what, this isn’t an easy decision, but it can be a great one for your family in the long term.