Caring For The Caregivers:
The Unspoken Cost of Providing Elderly Care At Home  

Perhaps one of the most difficult decisions one has to make in their lifetime, a choice that hangs in the delicate balance of love and necessity, is whether to move a parent into an assisted living community. Though home care (caring for an elder at home by a family member who is not a health professional) may be a wonderful solution for some families with a senior in need, it is not feasible for many others. If the decision to provide home care is made without thorough consideration, it could bring more harm than good for the caregiver and their parents alike.

What’s Wrong With Home Care Anyway? 

For caregivers, long days and nights of providing elderly assistance can lead to burnout. Especially when the caregivers are not qualified, confusion and setbacks can lead to frustration and resentment. As for seniors, home care limits their potential in their golden years and bars them from making meaningful social connections with people their age. 

Many people continue to have valid concerns about elderly care facilities. Some worry that moving their parents strips away their freedom, others note how it strains their relationship. On top of that, most people associate senior facilities with high costs. As intuitive as these concerns may sound, experts of elderly care plead with people to consider more factors, hidden costs, and sacrifices when opting their loved ones for home care. 

The Right Community Can Right Many Wrongs 

For those who worry that sending a loved one to a senior living community takes their freedom away, it is time to reconsider. When placed at a compatible facility, seniors are enriched by a sense of life and community. They are presented with more options and more freedom to choose. If your parents enjoy cooking, they can make their favorites with some assistance; if they enjoy shopping at the mall, a shuttle can transport them there and back safely. Most facilities work to let seniors keep their good ol’ routine. Life can be colorful in later years, the journey should not be halted by the limitations of home care.

The parent-child relationship is sacred and some believe moving their parents out jeopardizes that sanctity. However, incessant caregiving can become a heavy toll. At work, you can be distracted, wondering if your parents have hurt themselves or have wandered off while you are away. At home, you find yourself irritable, losing quality sleep, and frustrated by the to-do’s that are beyond your capabilities. Keeping your parent close can end up damaging your relationship. At the end of the day, you are not irresponsible, you are simply not qualified to take on the specific caretaking that your elderly parent requires. Assisted living rewards you with the peace of mind to be present and grateful every time you spend quality time with your parents, sparring both of you with the pressure associated with home care. 

The final, unavoidable concern is money. There is no denying the perception that assisted living is expensive. However, there are affordable options that can exceed your parent's needs. There is also financial assistance available for seniors. 

Piece of Advice, Peace of Mind

You might think that homecare is the duty of every child – that it is the right thing to do. However, families can find more peace, love, and excitement for life in the right assisted care community. AgeWise is a completely free service that helps Michigan families like yours find compatible, affordable senior communities, giving you and your parents peace of mind.