Home Care Services: As they age, your mom and dad have a harder time with specific household tasks.
They need in-home care services, but you’re not sure how to make sure you make the best arrangements for their needs. These tips will help you understand the best plan of action.
Get Multiple Opinions
You’ve spent enough time with your mom and dad that you think you know precisely what in-home care services are needed. Your brother has his own experiences with the things your parents can and cannot do.
Many older adults try to hide their weaknesses from their children. Your dad may not be steady when he stands up from a chair. To keep you from finding out, he waits until you leave the room. Your mom drove into a curb again. She uses touch-up paint to hide the scratches.
By gathering other family members for a discussion, you get the input of multiple family members. You might not be around on weekends when your parents go shopping, but your brother is. He’s not around during the week for meals, but you are. Use this input to develop a comprehensive list of the things your parents struggle to do unaided.
Consider the Future
Your mom and dad only need help with housekeeping and laundry. Don’t overlook what may be needed in the future. You want to make sure that other services can be seamlessly added to their care plan without blowing their budget.
Alzheimer’s is one area where families will run into a lot of care plan changes. At first, your mom needs help with meals and transportation. She’s still fine doing housework on her own. As the disease progresses, personal care slips. She can’t dress appropriately for the weather.
Eventually, her needs will progress to needing help with toileting, feeding, and ambulation. Being prepared for those changes reduces your family’s stress down the road.
Let Your Parents Be Part of Discussions
Involve your parents in the discussions you have with an in-home care specialist. They need to have the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the services designed to help them as they age, and see if they can interview caregivers in their area.
If your parents cannot be part of the discussion, you should gather a list of questions you know they have. Jot them down, and be sure to take notes when you’re talking to the home care expert.
In-home care services ensures your parents have the support they need while they age at home. Use the tips to come up with a care plan that matches their needs. Talk to the family to get additional input and have a list of questions from everyone. Then, sit down and call an in-home care expert to get answers.