Caring For An Aging Parent At Home

07/2/2009 - Family Concern It's hard to watch our parents get old: we want them to always stay younger, vigorous, and mentally fit. Unfortunately, life is not a fairy tale and we must all face the fact that our moms and dads will deteriorate over time and need help for even the simplest of tasks. If your parent wants does not need regular medical assistance and wants to remain in her own home, here is some advice for making sure her needs are being met and that her quality of life will still be good.

The ideal situation is for a senior citizen to have a regular caregiver or group of caregivers that can come in to check on her on a regular basis. In many American families, care giving duties fall to family members such as children, nieces, nephews, and even grandchildren. In some instances, where circumstances allow, a caregiver may live with the senior 24 hours a day and provide continuous care. However, if your loved one does not require such extensive help, a daily visit may be enough.

The danger with having just a single caregiver handle most of the duties is that the caregiver will be in danger of "burning out." A senior may make difficult demands or be unreasonable in her expectations from the caregiver, causing strained relations and making everyone miserable in the process. Having a group of caregivers handy can take the pressure off one single person and will greatly help when it comes to decision-making, negotiating with the senior, and handling the physical and emotional demands of the job.

Even the most diligent and dutiful group of care giving family and friends will run into seemingly insurmountable problems if an obstinate senior refuses to do what may be in her own best interest. In such cases as these, having a private geriatric care manager on hand can be a real life and sanity saver! A geriatric care manager is a disinterested professional that caregivers can turn to when handling the needs of a senior become difficult or when they need a break. Such a manager can:

-- help the senior to hear and understand your point of view when she simply won't listen to you: after all, she may see you as being "just a kid" still.

-- help family members and the senior to come to agreements.

-- can take over care when you and other care givers absolutely must work or attend to other family responsibilities.

Caring for an aging loved one can be a great blessing, but it is also often difficult. Make sure to have a great support system, both within the family and without, to help everyone be as happy as possible.