Will You Give Your Loved One Homecare or Assisted Living?
With advancing age, your loved one might develop diseases of old age and lose their ability to live independently. As people age, they often become physically frail and suffer declines in cognitive functions, hearing and sight.
As a result, they might lose their ability to safely drive automobiles, take medications, cook, and manage money. Eventually, they might need help dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting. Some may require a personal emergency response system device.
There are many factors you will have to consider when you decide how to care for your loved one. As one example, what does your loved one want? Some may want to stay at home with you where they have lived for years. Others might enjoy a setting where they can interact with other patients.
As another factor to consider, how serious is your loved one’s medical condition? Will you be able to competently care for your loved one?
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Yet another consideration is expense. Do you have Long Term Care Insurance? Are you able to afford assisted living for your loved one? Can you afford to equip your house and/or car with the medical accommodations required for your loved one’s medical condition? How much are other family members willing to help with their time and finances? Do you have to work to make financial ends meet? How family friendly are your employer’s work policies?
If time for homecare is a consideration, you could consider paying for a homecare aide. You could hire a homecare agency to supply one, or you could hire an independent contractor. Another option is to hire a trusted friend to help with your loved one’s homecare. A homecare aide can do things for your loved one such as making dinner, managing the pillbox, and driving your loved one to medical appointments.
The above are only a small portion of the factors you will have to consider when providing caregiving for your loved one. You should consult resources for caregivers to get all the help and advice you need.
As you make these decisions, keep in mind Numbers 6:24–26 that reads, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”(NIV).
