Adult children will often find that their elderly parents need more and more care as they age. If you have found yourself in this situation, you might be wondering what is best for your aging parent. One of the questions that you might be asking yourself is - should my elderly parent move in with me? This is a question that many adult children have asked themselves. There are some things that you may want to consider when making this decision.
Consider Other Family Members
Have you talked to other family members about your aging parent moving in with you? Maybe there are other primary caregivers who might want them to move in with them. Maybe your other siblings think your elderly parent will be fine living in their own home with the help of elder care providers. Have a conversation with other family members to determine what is best for your parent at this time. You should also take some consideration of how your parent feels about making this move.
Consider Everyone’s Privacy
Do you have your own children? If so, this will be 3 generations living under your roof, if you have your parent move in with you, as well. This could affect everyone’s privacy. However, if you have a bigger home, where everyone has a place to go if they need privacy, this might be alright. Maybe you could add on to your home to give your parent more room for their own privacy.
Consider the Necessary Accommodations
When you are considering moving your parent into your home, you should consider whether you can provide all the necessary accommodations that your parent will need. For instance, your parent might need a step-free bathtub or shower. They might need a bedroom that is on the main floor, so they don’t have to climb the stairs. Are these things that you can provide to your parent if they move in with you?
Consider the Costs
There might be some extra costs of having your aging parent move in with you. For instance, if you need to get a new bathtub that is safer for your parent to get into, this could be a cost you weren’t expecting. You might need to build a ramp on your front porch so that your parent can get in and out of your house easily.
Consider the Alternatives
If you are discussing whether your parent should move in with you, you should also consider the alternatives. Can you just have elder care providers help them at their own home? Is there someone who could move into your parent’s home to help them out.
These are some of the things that you should consider when thinking about having your parent move in with you. After you think about these things, you can make the best decision for you and your aging parent.
Sources
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2018/living-with-aging-parents.html
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elder care in Sunnyvale, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.