Making the Decision for In-Home Care: Tips for Families and Loved Ones
There’s nothing quite like the bond between a parent and their child. You want to do anything you can to keep them happy, healthy, and safe regarding elder care. If your loved one is getting older or needs more help with daily tasks, in-home care may be an option for you.
If that’s what you’re considering, it’s essential to know your options to make the best decision for everyone involved. Below, we discuss the options at your disposal when considering whether or not to get in-home care for your loved one.
Having an In-Home Care Plan in Place
As a caregiver, you might think it’s too early to start planning in-home care for your loved one. But the truth is that planning for the future can help make things easier when the time comes. It’s important not to put off this decision until it’s too late and then rely on memory or guesswork when deciding how best to care for your loved one in their final years or weeks of life.
If possible, try talking with other caregivers who have gone through similar situations so that they can share their experiences with you and offer advice on how best to approach things like finding an experienced caregiver who has been around long enough (and knows what they’re doing) but also won’t charge an exorbitant fee per hour worked.
Know Your Loved One’s Needs
When you’re considering in-home care, it’s important to know what your loved one’s needs are. For example, if they have a medical condition that requires regular visits from a nurse or doctor, this might be a good time for an in-home aide.
If your loved one spends most of their day watching TV or sitting at the kitchen table and chatting with visitors who come by for a visit, then maybe it would be better for them if someone else took over some of those responsibilities so that you can spend more time together as well as get some rest yourself!
Take Time to Make the Decision
When deciding to in-home care for your loved one, it’s imperative to take time. Don’t rush into a decision.
Don’t feel pressured to make a choice quickly or on your own. You may have questions about what type of care is right for your family member and how much it will cost. Your options are many–and there’s no reason to make an uninformed choice in haste.
Take some time to research all of the available options so that when you do choose one, it’s because it’s truly the best option for everyone involved. Ask questions and get answers from professionals who can help guide you through this process with confidence.
Ask a Lot of Questions
One of the best ways to make sure that you’re ready to get in-home care is by asking questions. The more you know about what your loved one wants and needs, the better prepared you’ll be when choosing an agency or service provider. Here are some things to consider:
Are we on the same page? Find out how much they agree with your ideas about caring for them at home. If there are differences between what they want (for example, a private room versus shared space) and what you think would work best (a private room), then these differences must get resolved before making any decisions about hiring an agency or service provider.
What do I need? Don’t forget about yourself! Consider whether this decision will impact other areas of life such as finances, family time, and career advancement opportunities if you’re the child–and then take action accordingly by asking questions like, How much does it cost? Will there be any out-of-pocket expenses? Do I qualify for financial aid if needed? Will my employer allow me time off work so I can attend doctor appointments with mom/dad/grandma/etc.?
Be Honest About Your Capacity to Care for Your Loved One
Be honest with yourself about what you can handle and what you can’t handle when caring for a loved one who may have special needs for senior care or require regular medical attention.
Don’t try to do too much; it’s natural to want to do everything for your loved one, but sometimes this can lead to feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. Make sure that the care provider understands your limits before starting the arrangement, so they know when it’s time for them to step in and help with tasks like bathing and dressing.
Ask for help. If you need assistance from family members who live far away--or even close by--make sure they understand how important it is that they often visit so that everyone feels connected and supported during this difficult time in life (and remember: “visiting” doesn’t always mean physically being there).
Taking the Time with Your Decision
Taking the time to consider in-home care options is really important so that you don’t end up feeling overwhelmed or struggling with more responsibilities than you can handle.
Consider whether you are emotionally prepared for the role. If not, it may be better for someone else in your family (like a sibling) or outside help from an agency to take over some of your responsibilities temporarily.
Importantly, set up a plan for care and who will provide it if needed during an emergency such as an injury or illness. This could include using respite services provided by agencies; hiring part-time help through an agency; asking friends or relatives for assistance occasionally; relying on neighbors/community members who might be willing/able/available without charge on occasion (elderly people often want companionship); having someone live nearby whom they could call upon immediately if needed.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that you are not alone in this journey. Many resources are available to help make this decision easier, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach when caring for a loved one at home. The most important thing is making sure that your decisions are suitable for both yourself and your family members– because, ultimately, they ought to benefit from in-home care or elder care. Comfort Keepers of Stockton & Tracy is at the forefront of providing dignified care services. If you’d like to know more about your options, don’t hesitate to contact us.
