By Ted Wolfendale | July 17, 2017
Being a family caregiver for your elderly parent can be a wonderful opportunity for you to spend more quality time with your senior, give back for all of the love, care, support, and encouragement that they have given you throughout your life, and make sure that your senior is able to live a safe, healthy, and comfortable lifestyle as they age in place.
This does not mean, however, that you need to take it all on by yourself. One of the most important decisions that you might make in the course of your care journey with them, in fact, can be whether they might need home care. Having a home care provider in the home with your elderly loved one can make a tremendous difference in your parent’s comfort, health, and well-being, as well as your degree of caregiver stress.
Some things to consider when trying to decide if your aging parent might need home care during their later years include:
- Your schedule.If you think that your parent has needs that go beyond the amount of time that you have to give them, starting home care can be a fantastic option for filling those care gaps efficiently.
- Your personal limitations.You may want to give your elderly loved one all of the care that they need, but it is important to keep in mind the physical and emotional requirements of all of the care tasks that you might have to perform for your senior. If you have limitations such as lack of physical strength, illness or compromised immune system, mobility issues, or other challenges, having home care can help to ensure these tasks are handled properly and efficiently.
- Sensitive tasks.Are you emotionally and mentally equipped to handle potentially sensitive tasks for your elderly parent? If your parent needs help with tasks such as bathing, dressing, or toileting, they may not feel comfortable accepting help from you, or you might not feel comfortable providing this type of help. If this occurs, you might consider hiring a care provider to handle this specific element of their care so that both of you can feel more at ease.
If your aging parent’s challenges have increased, your schedule has become busier, or your personal limitations and challenges have come to the point that you no longer feel as though you can fulfill your loved one’s needs in the way that they deserve, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting home care for them.
A home care provider can step in to fill any care gaps that might exist in your care routine with your loved one, ensuring that they get what they need to remain safe, healthy, happy, and comfortable as they age in place. Not only will this help your elderly parent maintain a higher quality of life and a more fulfilling lifestyle throughout your later years, but it can also give you greater peace of mind knowing that they are getting the care, assistance, support, and encouragement that they need.
If you are facing challenges related to handling potentially sensitive or emotionally vulnerable tasks for your senior, a home care provider can also be a neutral, respectful party to handle these tasks so that they are met effectively while maintaining your parent’s dignity and comfort.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Naples FL, call the caring staff at Dial-a-Nurse today. Naples: (239) 434-8000. Ft. Myers: (239) 939-1228.