Preparing Your Home for Elderly Care
As baby boomers hit their 50s, it is expected that they will spend more years caring for their elderly parents than they did caring for their own children. If caring for your elderly relative involves relocating him or her to your home, then you may face a delicate issue. Many older people cherish their independence and do not want to leave their homes to live with their adult children. You may face additional challenges as well if such a move would require a lifestyle change for you and your family. To determine if bringing your elderly parent home is right for your situation, consider the following questions:
Is There Enough Room in Your Home for the New Combined Household?
Will privacy be an issue? What are the new living and sleeping arrangements going to be? Will the elderly parent be restricted from certain parts of the home? Before making arrangements to house your loved one, make sure that you have enough room to ensure a comfortable living space for everyone involved.
How Can I Prepare the House?
In addition to preparing for the change in your everyday lifestyle, you will also need to ready the house itself. Be sure to give your house a home safety overhaul to help keep its newest resident safe and sound. This typically will not require a great deal of money, but you'll likely need to take some simple changes to make your home a safer place. For example:
- Keep Clutter to a Minimum to Allow for Safer Walkways
- Tuck Loose Cords and Wires Safely out of the Way to Prevent Falls
- Adjust Your Water Heater to Avoid Accidental Scalding
- Post Any Important Emergency Telephone Numbers near All Home Phones
How Will the Daily Routine Change?
Will the elderly parent be able to help out, or will they need assistance in order to have their needs met? It's important to keep in mind that your parent will most likely want to be a contributing member of the household. If he or she is able, find tasks that will let them help without overburdening them.
How Will This Impact the Family Budget?
What medical and other new expenses will now need to be met? This new financial burden could potentially be a crippling one. It is possible, however, that the elderly parent might be able to finance his or her own medical expenses. Life insurance policies can offer life settlements that enable policyholders to redeem a portion of the policy for its cash value. Being aware of these types of considerations could ease some of the financial strain that the new living arrangement brings.
Readying your home for the new responsibility is not a spur of the moment activity, but with careful consideration and planning, the transition can be a successful one. The change will impact everyone's lives, so be sure to take everyone's feelings, including your children's, into consideration before making your final decision.