As your parents get older, you may be considering the best way to provide support and care for them for their later years. There are many factors to consider when it comes to caring for our elderly, including social and cultural ideals, practical considerations, financial issues and more. To help you work out what the best option may be for you and your aging parents, read on for some useful points to think about.
What kind of professional support may be needed?
A key consideration when it comes to looking into supporting elderly adults is the level of professional or medical assistance that may be required. While many older adults remain independent throughout their lives, some with serious health issues, disabilities or other concerns, may need more hands-on help to live their lives as comfortably as possible.
One of the great advantages of using assisted living is that it can often provide access and support to professional, trained help, while still enjoying as much independence as possible. However, some facilities may not provide support for certain conditions that require more involved assistance or medical support, for instance with the administration of certain specialist medications, and it is a good idea to ask questions of any potential facility you are considering before making a decision.
What kind of social setting would they like to live in?
Before you make any kind of decisions about how you may help your parents in their later years, it is always essential to have an open conversation about their desires and expectations for the future. For some, their priority may be to enjoy a life close to their immediate or extended family, and they may expect to have a more active role, such as helping take care of grandchildren. This is often closely related to cultural issues, as many cultures will emphasize the benefits of living as a multi-generational household, rather than encouraging different generations to live separately.
For others, however, they may have a preference to enjoy a different social circle, and spend their later years living with their peers, and this is where an assisted living facility can be a great benefit. They will often encompass larger facilities or residential spaces, where older people can meet others their own age, form new friendships and connections, and enjoy a vibrant and active social life.
How might issues change over time?
Our lives are constantly changing over time, with many unexpected events taking place that can often take us in new, unplanned directions. When it comes to taking care of older adults in your life, you may also often find that there are levels of professional assistance required at different stages, and that this may be a subject that needs to be regularly reviewed over time.
To help you and your family decide on the best steps, it is helpful to understand their medical history and any potential issues that may arise in future. By having a clear picture of what to expect, you can decide how much support you may be comfortable to provide by yourself, and when you may need to have more involved help. In addition, your parents and family may also change their views over time about where and how they may like to live, for instance, as a family grows with older children, there may be a lack of space, a peaceful environment and privacy that is needed for all parties.
What can you afford?
Another important point to think about when planning for the care of aging parents is finance, and what is affordable for both your parents and yourself. Some elderly people may have planned their retirement future ahead of time, and have a dedicated savings or retirement account to help cover the cost of their living costs later on. While this may cover everything, it is still worth getting advice on whether or not their savings will cover costs in the contemporary climate, as expenses may have increased significantly, and their retirement funds may not always be sufficient for their needs.
If your parents are in part, or completely, dependent on you financially, or conversely, if they are also continuing to support others, then you may want to look at what is most affordable over a long-term plan. There are many different possibilities available to make living and healthcare more manageable, such as various insurance plans. There may also be some financial assistance programs available that can help you manage the cost impact of caring for older adults in your life.
Location and other considerations
Alongside the issues described above, another important topic to think about is finding the right location for your family. There are a growing number of assisted living spaces around the country, as well as other living options that may provide a different level of support and environment. However, for older adults for whom living close to their family is a high priority, then choosing somewhere as close as possible to accommodate close connections and frequent visits from their loved ones will be of utmost importance.
As well as location, many elderly adults will also have a close attachment to their own home, that they may have spent a large proportion of their life living in. Their home may hold deep personal memories, relationships, and be of great value to them. Moving away from such an important place could potentially have a negative impact, causing great distress and sorrow.
With so many things to consider when it comes to taking care of our loved ones in their later years, it is important not to rush the decision, and allow plenty of time to consider what is best for everyone. By looking at all the possible issues that you may have to address and communicating everyone’s desires and practical needs clearly, you can work to make sure that both you and your parents are happy with your choices, and can live a safe and happy life.
