Caring for elderly parents in your home

In a 2012 survey, BMO found that one in six adults are providing some form of care for aging parents or other aging relatives and friends. As the number of living aged increases, so will the number of adult children who will be expected to provide this care. Various articles to be found on elder caregiving point out that family members who are caregivers often spend considerable amounts of time and money, sometimes putting their own health and retirement savings at risk. There is an expectation that the government will take care of the necessary expenses and, while they will to a point, the cost of extra care staff, prescription medications, equipment like wheelchairs and specialized wound care can mount up quickly. Add to this the stress that accumulates as the sandwich generation tries to function in their career, take care of their family, maintain a home and have time with friends. Overwhelming is an understatement! (Click this link for a post on self-care)

Before moving an aging parent into your home, there are a number of issues that should be sorted out including:

• The geography of your home – can an elderly person be accommodated on one floor with a bedroom and washroom
• Can your home accommodate walkers and wheelchairs
• Do you have a compete understanding of the level of care that is required and will be required in the years ahead
• Is the entire family on board with the workload including driving the elderly parent to appointments, providing necessary care including bathing, companionship and medication schedule
• Do you have defined parameters around when the required care is beyond your capability, when the stress is affecting your own health and when the financial cost becomes a burden
• Will siblings provide any assistance financially or physically including relief care so that you can get away for a day or take a vacation
• If you live alone, do you have a support network of your own and if you are married or cohabiting do you have a strong partnership and family dynamic

These questions are only the beginning but a start to the wide ranging conversations that need to be had if you are considering caring for an aging parent in your own home.