What to do when your parents need care

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Published on Monday, 19 October 2020 11:54

Last Updated on 19 October 2020

Monica Costa

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There comes a time in the ageing process when people need a little extra care, and there comes a point where it can happen to your parents, too. This can lead to some agonising decisions that need to be made: So, what should you do when you feel your parents need care? Read on to find out what you need to consider.

Assess Your Parents’ Needs

Everyone has slightly different needs and your parents will be no different. The ageing process is different for everybody, so you need to take the time to understand your parent’s situation.

There are lots of different options depending on the level of care your parents need, so take the time to do your own personal evaluation of their position. As a an observer, you might be able to see things your parents can’t because they’re too close to the situation.

Be Inclusive

Of course, your opinion is just one of many that matters. The most important opinions are those of your parents, so try and include them in the discussion. Depending on the level of care your parent or parents need, this can be difficult, but you’ve got to try your best to keep them in the loop.

There can reach a point where you have to become the primary decision maker for your parent, but you still need to try to include them in the decision-making process as much as possible.

It’s a very difficult balance to strike, but with patience and empathy it can be achieved.

Understand the Financial Situation

There are lots of different care options out there and each has slightly different financial implications. Again, it’s important to discuss the financial implications of care with everyone who is affected by the decision and really make sure everybody is on board.

Moving into a care home is a big decision in anyone’s life, and it’s important they fully understand the financial side of the decision.

Research Care Homes

You want to know everything you can about moving your parents into a care home, so start researching now. There’s lots of information on the Internet that can help you with your decision and you can learn all you need to about the best care homes such as those at signature-care-homes.co.uk.

It can seem overwhelming when you’re starting your search for a care home, but there are lots of great resources out there.

Assess Safety at Home

While you’re considering the benefits of moving your parent or parents into a care home, it’s a good idea to assess their current living arrangements for safety. You might well find there are some small changes you can make to make their lives a little bit easier in their home and improve safety.

Things like trip hazards cause a lot of accidents for older people but with a quick assessment, you can quickly eliminate these. Moving into a care home isn’t an immediate thing, so make sure your parents are as safe as possible in the meantime.