As your loved ones get older and older, you might find that they have a harder time caring for themselves. And while some people might just need a hand with remembering things or taking care of specific daily tasks, if you have an elderly loved one that has progressed to needing essentially constant care and supervision, you’re going to have to help them figure out how to get what they need in the best possible way.
To lend you a hand in doing this, here are three things to consider when your elderly loved one needs constant supervision.
Move Them In With You
If your loved one was living on their own but isn’t able to safely do this anymore, the first thing you might consider is having them move in with you.
Often, people feel like they can give the best care to their loved one and would like the chance to try to make this work. However, if you work full-time or have a family you’re trying to care for already, taking on this additional responsibility can be a lot. While it is absolutely possible, you’ll want to think through all of the consequences of this decision before you move forward with this decision, like how you’ll continue to take care of your other responsibilities, the financial impact, the toll of your other relationships, and more.
Find Someone To Pick Up The Slack
Whether you’re planning on having your loved one move in with you or are looking into other options to care for them, one thing that you’ll need to do is find someone who can help pick up the slack for you.
Relying solely on yourself to give full-time care for your loved one is not only foolish, it’s also incredibly unhealthy. So if you have other family members or friends in the area, try to create some kind of system or calendar where everyone can pitch in. Or if this isn’t a possibility, you might need to hire someone to take over certain tasks for you or be there when you’re needing a break.
Look Into Full-Time Care
At a certain point, your elderly loved one might need a greater level of care than you’re able to adequately give, despite how much you might want to. At times like this, it’s prudent to look into full-time care like assisted living facilities or nursing homes. While this can be a hard transition for everyone, if this is where your loved one is going to be safe and get the best care, it may very well be the best option.
If your elderly loved one can’t take care of themselves anymore and is needing someone to be there with them at all times, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you figure out how to get them the care they need.
