The AARP has released some data that is probably well known to many of us by now: the majority of older Americans receiving senior care are assisted by their adult children. For those that have a senior citizen family member that needs help, you’ve probably provided care yourself for a while, or maybe you still do. Either way, it has become a common thing to do this; but that certainly doesn’t mean that it’s easy and it doesn’t mean that it’s always the best thing. And that goes for both the family member giving care and the family member receiving care.
The problem is that most people don’t think that they have any other choice but to go this route. There are a couple reasons for this way of thinking. The first is that they don’t feel like they have the resources to do anything else. The second is that they feel too guilty to do something different. Let’s break these down a little bit further.
Paying for senior care can be costly. One year of a nursing home stay, on average, is around $90,000. It will vary upon where you live and the quality of care that you decide on, but that’s still a daunting number regardless. Costs often must be offset by Medicaid, which ultimately lowers the quality and specialization of the care. Other types of care can be cheaper, with in-home care and assisted living being the cheapest full time type of care. These can go either way in price, depending upon the needs. However, professional senior care of any kind opens up a new door for you. It gives you an opportunity to continue with your daily life. You can keep your job, continue to earn money, you can keep your social life, and you can still be a responsible caregiver and provider for your family. Studies have shown that paying a professional while still working and earning money is actually cheaper in most cases than quitting your job to become a full time caregiver. The upfront cost is more, but it keeps money making opportunities open that would otherwise disappear. In this case, paying a professional is the most cost effective way to care for a loved one.
Paying a professional also addresses any feelings of guilt you might have. It’s perfectly understandable to want to spend as much time with your loved one as possible. However, do you know what to do in an emergency? Are you professionally trained to hand out medication and help with transfers from wheelchairs to showers and the like? If you’re not, having a professional in the house will make sure that care is done more carefully and safely.
Please know that some insurance companies, especially if you have a long term care policy, will provide training for a family member so that they can give care on a professional basis, too. This is a cost effective way for the insurance company to handle their obligations, but it also allows you to stay home if you do deem that this is the best choice.
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