There comes a time when your parents living independently may not be in their best interest. Perhaps they developed a life-altering condition that reduces their ability to care for themselves. Maybe the cost of living is just too much for them to afford on their retirement income. Whatever the case is, you’ll have to determine the next steps for their health and safety. While some families decide that a senior living community or nursing home is best, others choose to move their parents into their home.
Before making a final decision on where you’re going to place mom and dad, there are some things you should evaluate.
Medical Conditions
One of the first things to consider is the current condition of your parent’s physical and mental health. The more advanced their health problems are, the more challenging it becomes for the caretaker. You want to ensure that you’re not putting too much stress on yourself or compromising your loved one’s well-being. For example, if your mom has diabetes, you’ll have to ensure she takes her insulin, eats regular meals, and stays active to prevent further complications. If this is more than you can handle, you may want to look into assisted living or home health aides.
Monthly Expenses
Although your parents may have social security income or retirement savings, it may not be enough to cover their monthly expenses. As the caretaker, you’ll be responsible for covering these costs. To get an idea of how much you’ll need, review your parent’s budget. How much do they pay for groceries, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment? Based on their income and savings, how much more do you need to contribute?
If the answer is no, you might consider looking for a secondary source of income. Also, getting rid of existing debts and improving your credit with resources like personal loans to build credit is ideal. This way your expenses are less so you can cover additional costs from your parents.
Safety And Convenience
Another factor to consider before moving your elderly parents in is their safety and convenience. You want to ensure that they’re safe and comfortable while living with you. Therefore, you’ll need to evaluate your home to see if it accommodates their needs. For instance, do you have a spare bedroom, finished attic, or basement for them to stay in? If they have mobility issues, do you have a bathroom on the first or second floor near their room where they can use the restroom safely? If not, you may need to make updates to your residence to ensure it’s senior-friendly.
As for convenience and comfort, do you have things to keep your parents occupied throughout the day? Whether it’s allowing your mom to start a garden or installing a flat-screen so your father can watch sports and news channels all day, you must keep them busy to prevent mental health problems.
Your Current Household
Last but not least, if your parents are moving in with you, you must consider your current household. How will this affect your marriage, kids, or other relatives residing with you? Will taking on the responsibilities of a caretaker take a toll on you physically or emotionally? If so, how will that affect your ability to be a practical child, parent, spouse, or employee? Although there are ways to create new routines and schedules that accommodate everyone, it’s essential to evaluate potential problems before moving your parents in.
When your elderly parents can no longer live on their own, everyone has a serious decision to make. While there are options like senior communities and nursing homes, if those ideas aren’t feasible, the next best thing is bringing them to live with you. Before you make any sudden moves, ensure that you’ve thought through the topics listed above and prepared a plan, so the transition is smooth.
