Caring For Your Elderly Relatives: What’s Your Best Option?

When choosing the best form of care for your elderly relatives there are many factors to consider. Some options can be expensive whilst others may take up a lot of your time. Here are the three main options to consider and how you can make the best choice for you. 

Investing in care home facilities

Care home facilities are ideal for providing professional around-the-clock care and can be the best option for those with serious deteriorative conditions. There are however large costs to consider. These can often be too much for many people on a moderate income – although it’s possible to have multiple people chip in. Rates vary from care home to care home, so it may be possible to find one within your budget, however, the cost isn’t everything. Many people want a care home in the right location so that they can easily visit or in a location that has personal meaning to their aging relative. Reputation is also important for many people. Online reviews and rankings guides are worth reading to help find the best senior living facilities. All care homes offer tours so that you can see the facilities for yourself in operation – it’s worth visiting multiple care homes to see which one appeals to you. Care homes can also be used for temporary respite – if you’re looking after your aging relative yourself and need a break, it’s possible to book a week or two for your aging relative when you need it. For senior relatives who are physically disabled but still able to make their own decisions, make sure that they have the final word in the decision process – they will most likely want to tour care homes for themselves and see which has the best services for them.

Hiring an at-home carer

Another option could be to hire an at-home carer. This way, your aging relative still gets to live in their home while receiving professional care. There are fees to consider, but these are less costly than a care home unless your relative needs 24-hour care, in which case a care home is likely to be more affordable than hiring multiple carers. All in all, at-home carers allow you to get on with your responsibilities without the high fees of a care home, although are often best suited to elderly relatives that can manage without full care. Many people hire a carer for the mornings and evenings for tasks such as getting their senior relative washed and dressed. As with care home facilities, reputation is an important factor and you should look into reviews and get recommendations from other people when choosing a carer. There are many private carers and caring staff companies to choose from and it’s worth interviewing multiple people to find the carer who you trust and get along with the most. You will want to hire a carer that communicates well with the other carers and yourself regarding your loved one. When hiring a carer, it’s essential for them to learn how to write progress notes to accurately record your loved one’s condition and track their progress over time, ensuring that they receive the best care possible.

Becoming a full-time carer yourself

The final option is to care for your aging relative yourself. By taking on this role, you don’t have to put your trust in someone else or pay care fees. It does, however, mean giving up a lot of your time and freedom for their benefit – they may have to move in with you and you may have to quit your job or take on reduced hours to provide the care they need. If you’ve got a partner or kids who still live with you, you may have to talk to them before jumping into this decision as it could impact their lives too. There are several government benefits and grants that you can claim as a full-time carer, helping you to financially support yourself and you’re elderly loved one. If they move in with you, you may have to make various modifications to your home such as installing a stair lift or grab bars, but these shouldn’t cost you too much out of your pocket as they are usually funded by the government. If your senior relative is only physically affected and is still able to make decisions for themselves, make sure that you also respect their wishes – they may not want to be dragged out of your home to come to live with you, even if it does seem like the most sensible option. Many counseling services can help you and your senior relative come to the best decision – financially neither of you may be able to afford any other kind of care.

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