Being a son or a daughter to an elderly parent can seem a lot like an exercise in role reversal at times. For years, you were the one that was being taken care of. But now that you are taking care of a parent, suddenly you become the one that now needs to be a caregiver. It can be extremely difficult at first, but it doesn’t need to be an awful experience if you approach it right. In fact, you might even find it to be extremely rewarding to finally be able to give back to the person that gave so much to you early on in your life.
There are a few things that you need to know before you get overwhelmed by this task. First, despite what it might seem like, you are not going to be the sole caregiver for forever unless you choose to be. There are many care providers out there. Some of them are permanent while others can be used on a temporary basis. In-home care is one of the most versatile methods since it only involves having a caregiver visit the house and no relocation is necessary. This can range from just a few hours a week to being around the clock supervision, if need be. If you need to do so later on, the necessity of additional care is always something that can be addressed then without additional problems.
That’s the beauty of this approach. It addresses the need for extra help immediately, and all without any sort of lifestyle change. It is a step forward, and a lot of times, it is the only step necessary. It’s just a small step for sure, but it is often more than enough to meet every need your elderly loved one has. It gives help, but it also minimizes any intrusions into your loved one’s way of life. In other words, you are helping them without inconveniencing them any more than you need to.
This does bring up another issue: what if this help isn’t enough? For most situations it will be, but not always. If you find that more intensive care is necessary, adjusting is not difficult, even if you’ve already begun in-home care. It is always easier to add more services than to take them away. If in-home care isn’t enough, you can look at the next logical step then. Usually, this is assisted living, and there are some services out there that can provide both. It’s better to go up slowly, though, then to find out later that assisted living isn’t the right thing and try to adjust downward.
The role reversal isn’t unusual, but it can seem different and difficult when it happens. It is a natural part of the aging process, however. Rather than letting it disrupt your life, be prepared and have a plan in place to address issues before they get out of hand. This way, you can ensure both your family’s happiness and your own as seamlessly as possible.
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