No one ever thinks about their parents getting older. That is until they look at them one day and realize they are not 40 anymore. That’s not to say they aren’t healthy and active older adults, but they are approaching their elder years. As such, you might wonder what will happen if they aren’t able to care for themselves one day. If you’re thinking about stepping in and taking care of your older parents – whether it’s at home or through working with services in assisted living and memory care near me – here’s what you need to do first.
Make Honest Assessments
Before speaking with your parents, you need to assess their needs. In reality, what you think they need and they know they need could be completely different. Every elderly parent is different, and may require different types of care — think live-in care offered by the best home health care agencies in Philadelphia pa, memory care services provided by senior living communities elsewhere, and so on.
That said, ask them if theyre experiencing any kind of medical issues such as weakening joints, problems with sight, or hearing loss. Should their medical condition be worse than you thought, like needing a wheelchair or cognitive decline, you must speak with their doctor. You also need to look into your states filial responsibility laws. Filial responsibility laws are rules that make you responsible for your elderly parents well-being. However, bear in mind that not every state has these laws. An example of filial responsibility states include New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Texas and Wyoming, for example, dont have them. Once you’ve determined how your state handles these laws, a detailed guide can help you understand what exactly youre responsible for.
Analyze The Finances
You should already be aware that taking care of an elderly parent is going to cost money. With something as important as your parents health, you want to have a good grasp on your finances. The first step involves assessing your parents current financial situation. Do they have health insurance? Do they have any savings in reserve? Do you need to eliminate debts that they owe? Secondly, if you plan on having them move in and they have limited mobility, youll also need to factor in the renovation costs. Installing handlebars in the bathroom and turning the guest room into a spare bedroom can cost a little more than you thought. Youll need to come up with a solid financial plan before everything is said and done.
Consider Your Own Needs
You might think its a little selfish factoring your own needs into the equation, especially when it comes to ensuring your parents are taken care of. But you also need to take care of yourself as well. Although you might jump to the decision solely because they are your parents, you cant act rashly. Before youre able to officially make the decision, you have to consider the following factors:
- Are you in a good financial position to do so?
- How close do you live to them?
- Are you going to learn how to take care of their disability or impairment?
- Are you yourself in good health?
Everyone wants to take care of their parents just as they did for you. However, dont fault yourself for not being able to. If youre not able to, then you can always double the efforts to find a place where they can receive the care they deserve.