Caring for Aging Parents at Home
Caring for your aging parents at home who require assistance in daily activities (such as bathing or preparing meals) is challenging. It is even more difficult to decide whether I should care for my elderly parents at home or have them go to an assisted living home or nursing home. Like me, you will want to care for your elderly parents at home. However, this is a challenging task. It takes time, energy, and resources. Depending on the level of care your loved one needs, you might consider hiring a private caregiver or home health aide to give you a hand with administering medication assisting with bathing, dressing, and eating. Home health aides will provide a range of care and services. When choosing in-home care for your elderly parents, ask friends or family members if they have any recommendations.
Considerations before Hiring Home Health Aides
Some things to consider before hiring home health aides are does your aging parent have Alzheimer’s disease or other debilitating mental disorders? If so, will a stranger be able to care for them safely? Is your parent still able to talk and move around without assistance? Are they at risk of falling? Also, how much does the service cost? The going rate for most home health aides is $20 an hour with a required minimum of 4 hours a day. If you utilize the service five days a week, this total comes to $1,600 a month. On the other hand, if you decide to take on the task yourself, your entire day, seven days a week, is devoted to making sure your loved one eats three times a day, gets a bath, gets dressed, and has some mental stimulation or entertainment. Doing this while taking care of your own family is what it’s like being in the Sandwiched Generation.
Financial Assistance with Caring for Your Aging Parents at Home
In-home care can be an excellent choice for elderly parents, but insurance may not always cover it. There are some key things to know before opting to have your parents live in your home rather than in a nursing home or assisted living center. First, understand that you won’t need a special license to provide in-home care; any licensed nurse can do so—though there may be additional requirements if your parent is bedridden or need mobility assistance. This depends on where you live, however. If you find yourself needing financial aid with caring for your elderly parents, there are some options. One option is Medicaid. Medicaid is a federal and state program that provides assistance and resources to low-income individuals. It provides health coverage for low-income individuals, families, children, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities. There are income eligibility requirements to qualify for Medicaid. Contact your state Medicaid agency to see if you are eligible for Medicaid. In Georgia, you can get paid to care for your elderly parents. You will receive a tax-free stipend as a family or kinship caregiver if qualified.
Daily Living Aids
If you choose to take care of your elderly parents at home, take time to assess what level of care will be needed and what tools you will need. For example, my mother was blind. Some beneficial things for her were: a talking clock, an Alexa device, a clothes labeler, and a television. The talking clock announced the time hourly. The clothes labeler allowed her to identify her clothes and independently dress. My mother could not watch television. However, she loved to listen to shows like the Masked Singer, Wendy Williams, Judge Judy, Family Feud, and the news. The Alexa device was the most versatile and valuable of all. My mother made telephone calls, listened to audible books, listened to music, and got daily news and weather reports. Most importantly, she could reach me anywhere utilizing the Alexa call features.
When deciding to care for your elderly parents at home, be relieved to know several resources are available to assist with this challenging but loving task. Keeping them home among family in a familiar environment is beneficial to them. A great resource to consider to help your aging parent’s independent living is http://www.sandwichedmatriarchandmoney.com/thewrightstuff.