Supporting Families: Navigating Home Care for Senior Parents
Supporting Families: Navigating Home Care for Senior Parents
Family support is a crucial part of modern life. Every year, the number of homes supporting both young children and senior parents will grow. Boomers are in their retirement years and make up the largest generation in their age group, leaving Gen Xers and older millennials as responsible adults holding up the center of three-generation families. In navigating this dynamic family structure, the concept of home care for senior parents becomes increasingly crucial. As the generation responsible for their aging parents, Gen Xers and older millennials often find themselves seeking ways to provide the necessary care and support for their senior family members within the comfort of their homes.
During this time, we know how vital it is for families to access supportive services. Over time, seniors become more dependent on family for daily care, and families in turn can reach out to home care services to make their tasks easier. Both seniors and their adult children can benefit from access to home care, which focuses on enhanced independence and maintaining positive family relationships as a senior's needs increase.
If you are currently caring for senior parents, we can help you navigate through selecting the right home care solutions to keep the family strong.
The Sandwich Generation Dilemma: Juggling Kids and Caring for Aging Parents
One of the biggest challenges for adults in the prime of their lives is entering the "sandwich generation.” It is a time in your life when you are both a parent to young children and concerned for your aging parents. You may check in on your elderly parents frequently or host them in your home to provide more active care. Your parents may help with childcare in some ways, but they will need more care over time.
Parents often find themselves juggling the needs of their young children with the needs of their older relatives, leaving little time for self-care and personal goals.
Fortunately, you don't have to do this on your own. Home care services step in and provide support to prevent responsible individuals in the sandwich generation from spreading themselves too thin while taking care of everyone else.
Choosing Compassionate Home Care for Senior Parents
The key is to connect your senior parents and other elderly relatives with the right compassionate home care provider. Home care allows seniors the peace and enjoyment of "aging in place,” meaning they can live at home in familiar surroundings, continuing their long-established routine with increasing levels of help from a kind and capable home care assistant.
Home care services can conduct daily checkups to ensure that mostly independent seniors are well each day or can schedule continuous supervision and support for seniors who require assistance throughout the day. This support takes the pressure off of considerate middle-generation relatives who might otherwise worry about their senior parents being home alone while they are at work or involved in being active parents for their children.
A Guide for Families: Finding the Right Home Care for Senior Parents Services
How can you find the optimal home care service for your aging loved ones to provide everyone with peace of mind? We can assist with a few insightful tips.
1. Research Local Services
Start by investigating local home care services. Established teams are the safest place to look because they tend to have well-established standards for quality care and senior home safety. Make a short list of the top-ranking providers and investigate further.
2. Check Reviews and Testimonials
Explore personal stories of the care provided by each service. Look for glowing reviews and detailed testimonials covering the quality of care, the positive relationships formed between caregivers and clients, and the specific services provided by each home care team. Great testimonials are a good sign that you have found a positive and trustworthy service.
3. Verify Credentials and Quality Training
Credentials also matter. Home caregivers with certifications in safety, food handling, dementia care, and other specializations can provide higher-quality care. The service showcases excellent training and the capability to connect you with specialists if you need specialized home care.
4. Establish a Support Routine to Meet Your Loved One's Needs
You can build personalized home care plans for your senior parent or relative. A consultation with your caregiver can help you determine the specific hours and services that will provide the best support to promote health, happiness, and independence for your senior parent. You can plan the care hours and decide on the payment details from there.
Discover Peace of Mind – Explore Our Home Care for Senior Parents Solutions Today!
If you are currently trying to care for senior relatives while also balancing the other responsibilities in your life, like career and parenting, consider making home care part of your solution. Home care is designed to provide support to aging seniors, promoting positive family relationships while reducing a senior's dependence on relatives for daily care. Connect your aging parent or relative with a new friend who will make sure they are safe, engaged, and healthy at home, so you don't have to worry all the time or constantly check in any longer.
With the help of home care, visits with grandparents can be warm and carefree again. With home care, you can regain the peace of mind and time in your day to relax, take care of yourself, and even refocus on your personal goals. Don't get caught in the middle of the Sandwich Generation dilemma. Reach out to the community support services that are there to help.
It's time to take proactive steps to ensure the well-being of your senior parents and your well-being as a member of the sandwich generation. Compassionate solutions are available to provide daily care and support. Through Elite Home Health Care, you can make informed decisions on behalf of your loved ones and your family as a whole.
Written by: Leah Ganz
Leah Ganz, RN, BSN is the Director of Patient Services at Elite Home Health Care. She has an extensive background in homecare and previously worked in various specialties including pediatrics, pain managemnet and internal medicine. She oversees allpatient services across Elite's departments.