Family is an essential part of our lives. They are there with us from the day we are born, and hopefully, they are there with us during our last breaths. Family members know us like no one else, and they love us like no one else. We’d do anything for our family, and they’d do anything for us.
But not everyone has this structure to help them. Some people that do have family have toxic or even abusive relationships with those that are supposed to be the closest to them. Oftentimes, family is unable to love and nurture a child like they are able to. The child might be put up for adoption or removed from the home. Family members might pass away, placing someone in the same scenario. This can happen to adults, too. Even a senior citizen might find that their children have passed away or have become otherwise unable to care for them. Even an older adult with children and grandchildren might find themselves in a situation where they don’t have family to rely on.
There’s a term for this kind of individual: an elder orphan. This is a senior citizen that doesn’t have the close family members available to help them with daily tasks. This might happen because there is no family, because family members are physically distant, or because loved ones just aren’t able or willing to help for some reason.
Family is typically the first line of defense when it comes to senior care. Even if there is not a conscious effort to provide formal “senior care” by a family member or other loved one, this is what usually happens. An adult child will provide meals and help them move around safely throughout the house. A neighbor will come over once a week and help with household chores. Stuff like this is incredibly important, and usually happens under the radar. Sometimes the person helping out won’t even realize that they are providing such a huge level of support to the person they care about.
But even though lacking this support this can be a huge detriment to someone’s physical and mental wellbeing, there are things that can be done to help the elder orphans around us.
Don’t despair if you know someone that doesn’t have loved ones nearby. They can still get connected with high quality care near them. This might not be family, but it can definitely offer the help and support that a family would. It might not be the same loving atmosphere of a family, but it can be a close second, especially when the right caregiver is selected.
If you have questions about what this might look like, please feel free to get in touch with us. Even if you’re not located in the San Francisco Bay Area, we can help get you connected to the resources around you that will enable your family to find the best professional in-home care possible. Your loved ones deserve the best–we can help you find it.
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