When parents begin to age, their adult children are often left with the responsibility of caring for their elderly parents. Sometimes considered a role reversal, this sudden change can put a lot of stress on families. Adult children may begin to feel incredibly stressed and guilty, and aging parents often feel helpless. While this is certainly a difficult time for many families, it doesn't have to be.
In-home caregivers can bridge that gap. These professionals can provide the healthcare services your aging parents need so that you and your parents can maintain a happy and healthy relationship. While you will not need to care for your parents as much when you have help, you will need to be involved.
If you have been thinking about hiring an in-home healthcare professional for your parents, keep these four tips in mind.
1. Visit Regularly
Even if you do not live in the same city as your parents, it is a good idea to visit them regularly. After all, regular visits will help you stay in touch and will also make it much easier for you to recognize when your parents need help from an outside source. While you do not need to visit daily, try to come as often as possible. After all, life is short, and you do not want to miss out on this opportunity.
If you do not live near your parents, try to check in with them regularly through other means. Phone calls, video chats, and even old-school letters are all good ways to keep in touch with your parents. If your parents are adequately tech-savvy, you could utilize email, chat clients, and text messaging to stay connected.
2. Keep Communication Lines Open
Open communication with your aging parents is key. By talking regularly about their health concerns, you'll be more informed. But more importantly, communicating will help you determine whether your parents have any specific wishes you should carry out if they become incapacitated. While you might not be completely comfortable talking about these issues, they are important.
If you do not want to pester your parents with a bunch of questions, don't worry. You can start small. Ask them what medications they are taking and how frequently they take them. Ask them how comfortable they are with their medical routine. Ask them whether they have any concerns about household work, other chores, or hygiene.
Once you have talked about these topics, move on to the tougher ones. Be gentle but firm when talking about medical wishes. Do your parents have a medical proxy? If so, who is it? If it isn't you, be sure you get the person’s contact information.
3. Know How Much Care Is Needed
In-home healthcare professionals can assist seniors with a wide variety of tasks, but in order to know which services the care provider you hire needs to provide, you need to know what your parents need. If you don't already know what they need help with, spend a few days with them.
While you are with your parents, pay close attention to things they have difficulty with. Additionally, take note of anything they ask for help with. This will give you good insight into what type of care your parents need. Depending on their ages and health levels, they may just need help with household cleaning and chores. Or they might need help with medical injections, medication schedules, or even bathing.
Once you know how much care your parents need, you can begin to look at hiring an in-home healthcare provider. Many providers offer a wide variety of services, ranging from companionship to 24/7 care. Depending on how much care your parents need, the professional caregiver can visit your parents and assist them daily or weekly.
4. Talk With Their Doctors
It can also be helpful to talk to your parents’ doctors. The doctors can give you even more insight to their health conditions. Plus, the doctors can help you and your parents’ come up with a healthcare plan that can be followed both inside and outside of the home.
Additionally, the doctor will likely be familiar with insurance policies. For example, in Florida, aging parents can often qualify for low-cost or even free in-home healthcare through Medicare or Medicaid. Both Medicaid and Medicare will often pay for in-home healthcare if a doctor says it is necessary. In-home healthcare may also be paid for if your parents require special tools (a cane, a wheelchair, and so forth) to walk or move.
While in-home healthcare providers can assist your parents with many tasks, they cannot replace you. So keep these tips in mind to ensure that both you and your parents are happy and healthy. If you would like more information about
in-home healthcare
for seniors, contact A Visiting Redi-Nurse today.
