Now that Mom has sold her car, is no longer driving and it is harder for her to get around on her own, it has been decided that you and your siblings will divide up her senior care needs. Someone has to take her to the doctor's office, grocery store and beauty shop. Someone else needs to take care of laundry and housework. And don't forget that the yard needs to be maintained. But there are a few other critical aspects to taking on the care of an elderly loved one which need to be addressed but often go unnoticed until there’s an issue.
Read through this planning list when setting up care for your older loved one:
- Arrange and store all essential personal information together, including medical information, power of attorney paperwork, wills, trusts, financial information on all assets and liabilities, insurance, advance healthcare directives, and more.
- Check to see if your employer offers a flexible work schedule for time needed to take care of the older adult, or paid or unpaid leave. Consider the financial consequences of employment-related changes.
- Realize the particular financial repercussions of supplying care for a family member. Studies show that family care providers pay over $5,000 each year for care needs, over and above any lost wages.
- Talk with your older loved one and all others who will be involved in providing care in order to put together a written care agreement. Even though it might seem unnecessary, having care details outlined in writing helps eliminate future disputes.
- Create a strategy for continuing help and support for yourself, to allow for needed time for self-care and to supply a safe, trusted channel for your personal feelings. Think through available options, to incorporate not just immediate family and close friends, but also a counselor or therapist, your place of worship, web-based or in-person caregiver support groups, and disease-specific organizations, such as the Parkinson's Association.
Experienced in-home caregivers are another great resource for support for seniors in need of assistance with proper care, as well as for the family members providing their care. Respite care services allow family members to take much-needed breathers from care to deal with their own personal needs and to unwind with some downtime. The best way someone can nurture another is to first take care of himself/herself.
Independence-4-Seniors Home Care in Chicago has more suggestions about putting a plan in place for senior care, and is here to help fill in any gaps with our full selection of professional in-home care services. Call us at (630) 323-4665 for assistance.