You can see it on the horizon, but you're too busy to address it right now.
You’re juggling life – a family, full-time job, pets, financials and
everything else that goes with it. So when spending time with your aging
parents, you probably can't imagine incurring something the size of their
waning independence. And so it's easy to let it go, for now.
But the hard reality remains: most Americans do not have a plan for their
aging loved one. When the problem with Mom or Dad worsens, many families
endure the chaos and stress of trying to find a solution.
It doesn't have to be this way. Don't wait any longer. Find peace of mind
by preparing yourself for what's ahead.
The first step toward maintaining your aging parent's well-being is to come
up with a plan of care. With each passing year, your elderly parent may
only require more assistance. A trusted caregiving agency can give an
honest and experienced perspective on what to expect. Planning early for
Mom or Dad will help you make better decisions.
Did You Know?
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Your elderly mom or dad make up the ‘silver tsunami’ dramatically
impacting the demographics of the nation. “The number of Americans ages 65
and older is projected to more than double from 46 million today to over 98
million by 2060, and the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total
population will rise to nearly 24 percent from 15 percent,” according to
Population Reference Bureau.
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Aging parents face a higher chance of developing memory difficulties like
dementia or Alzheimer's. “Demand for elder care will also be fueled by a
steep rise in the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease,
which could nearly triple by 2050 to 14 million, from 5 million in 2013,”
per the
Population Reference Bureau.
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Seniors increasingly want to ‘age in place.’ According to a
joint report
by the Home Care Association of America and Global Coalition on Aging:
“Nine out of ten Americans 65 and older want to stay at home for as long as
possible, and 80 percent think their current home is where they will always
live.”
You want the best for your mom and dad, so it’s time to think about how to
address the challenge of caring for them when they can no longer care for
themselves.
The plan must be sustainable and realistic. Daily pressures from your work
and personal life will prevent you from adequately addressing the needs of
an aging parent. You're already a mom to growing children, a wife and a
worker. When assuming the role of family caregiver to your elderly loved
one, you represent the
sandwich generation. You’re dealing with extra emotional, financial and legal stress.
According to ‘Caregiving in the U.S.' by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Public Policy Institute,
"On average, caregivers spend 24.4 hours a week providing care to their
loved one. Nearly one-quarter provide 41 or more hours of care a week
(23%)."
Don’t risk exposing yourself to dangerous burnout. Instead, a
professional caregiver
has the training to offer daily assistance to mom or dad. You can also rely
on the caregiver to give you much-needed
respite care.
Home Care Can Be Critical for Day-to-Day Life
A professional caregiver provides non-medical support for your aging
parent. This person is a fully-trained professional. Compassion and
patience underscore
quality caregiving
at home. When your mom or dad needs help with
grooming, dressing, or preparing meals, the professional caregiver serves as the solution. The dedicated hire can
also provide medication reminders, so your aging parent won’t forget.
The benefits of the professional caregiver include better health and
potentially lower medical bills for your parent. “Elderly Americans
receiving home care generally need fewer trips to doctors and hospitals. As
a result, home care reduces overall health care costs…” according to the
joint report
by the Home Care Association of America and Global Coalition on Aging.
Companionship Can Be Key
As your elderly loved one ages, it's essential to keep stimulating his or
her cognitive and social abilities. The friendly professional caregiver can
energize your aging parent. This person is trained to support the
emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the elderly. The professional
caregiver offers a
host of care services
that can
including teaching mom or dad the
basics of texting, surfing the internet and social media. Your aging loved one won’t feel lonely or depressed. Instead, Mom or Dad
will learn how to stay connected with you and the world.
Professional Caregivers Can Keep the Elderly Safe
Older people fall every second of every day, according to the
Centers for Disease Control. The likelihood of a fall
increases with age, up to 37 percent in people 85 years or older. So, it’s smart to hire a
professional caregiver to
prevent a fall
before
it happens to Mom or Dad. You will get a thorough assessment of the risk
factors.
Meanwhile, the professional caregiver provides customized care for Mom or
Dad experiencing dementia
or Alzheimer’s. Your aging parent can avoid dangerous situations like keeping the stove
on or getting lost while going to the grocery store.
It's natural to worry about your aging loved one; however, you can feel
good knowing a professional caregiver is present, especially if you live a
distance from Mom or Dad.
Long-distance services
give you the option to send care when you can’t be there.
Planning now for your elderly loved one will save you from panic, guilt and
stress. Don’t wait for the dizzying chaos of a parent’s life event that
changes everything. Planning for home care services right now can save you
from having to react to an incident, but instead allow a plan your family
made to unfold as it should.
Click
here
for more ways to be proactive, including knowing the signs of decreased
independence of which you cannot ignore.