When a family member becomes ill or passes away, moving home can be challenging.
The emotional toll of leaving behind friends and loved ones can often leave you feeling isolated and alone.
You’ll want to start thinking about where you’ll live once you move home. This means looking at schools, housing options, and local amenities.
If you’re going to stay close to your parents, consider living in their old neighborhood.
Here are 10 things you should consider when moving home to care for your sick parent.
What Kind Of Care Will The Person Need?
If your parent has Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or other chronic illness, you may have some questions about how they’ll respond to changes in their routine.
Will they continue with their regular medications? Will they need help getting around? Will they require constant supervision?
These are all things that you’ll need to consider before making any major life decisions.
Where Will You Live?
The first step is deciding on what type of accommodation you’d like to use. You might choose an apartment complex, a house, or a retirement village.
Think about whether you want to be near your parents’ current residence or if you’d prefer to find something closer to your work.
You should consider what will be the best choice for you and your family and not just what’s easiest.
Will It Be Possible To Get Them Into A Senior Residence?
Many seniors’ residences offer special programs for people who are caring for an aging relative. You might also find that there are certain benefits available through your employer.
Chat with your employer or look online about what kind of help could be available to you.
Additionally, visit a few different places, so you can see which one would be most suitable for your needs.
Can You Afford This?
It’s important to think about finances as well. It’s not always easy to make ends meet while taking care of someone else.
Make sure you’ve considered all of your financial obligations, including rent, mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, transportation costs, child care expenses, and medical bills.
This way, you won’t have to worry about money issues during your time of need and can focus on doing what you need to do to take care of your parent.
Do You Have Support Networks?
Having supportive friends and family members is essential in times of crisis. Find out who cares for your parent and who would be willing to help you.
Ask friends and relatives if they know anyone who can provide respite care or help with childcare. Your social network can be a great source of information and advice.
It is important to keep communication open, so you can ask for assistance when needed.
How Will You Manage Stress?
When you’re dealing with a situation that involves another person, it can be difficult to maintain control over your emotions.
Stress can increase your risk of developing health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression.
You should consider ways to manage stress by seeking out support from others and practicing good self-care.
This includes things such as eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, sleeping enough, and managing your moods.
Are You Prepared To Handle Emergencies?
You’ll need to prepare yourself mentally and physically for emergencies. Practice emergency drills and learn CPR.
Get copies of your parent’s medication list and discuss these with your doctor. Have a plan for where you’ll go in case of an emergency.
Also, talk to your local police department about your plans. They may even be able to give you tips on preparing for emergencies. Planning can save lives!
What Does Your Parent Say About Moving?
Your parent may not be too keen on relocating. If he or she has any concerns about leaving their home, try talking to him or her about how you feel.
Explain why you want to move and let them know that you understand that this decision is theirs alone. Don’t force your opinion on them.
Let them decide what’s best for them. Having this discussion allows you to get the answers you need to make a sound decision that is best for both of you.
Is Your Parent Happy At His Or Her Current Residence?
If your parent isn’t happy living in his or her current residence, it may be better to stay put rather than relocate.
However, there are other factors to consider before making a final decision.
Talk to your parent about whether he or she wants to live independently or whether they’d like assistance from you.
Discussing these options early on in the process will help you figure out what works best for everyone involved.
Will You Be Ready For The Transition?
It takes some planning to ensure a smooth transition between residences. Start thinking now about how you’ll communicate with your new caregiver.
If possible, set up a schedule for phone calls and visits. Make sure you have all necessary paperwork completed and organized.
Be sure to bring your parent’s medical records with you. Being prepared will ease the burden of moving day and help to make the transition smoother.
Conclusion
Moving your parent into a senior care facility can be a daunting task. It’s important to know that the process doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Hopefully, with the steps above, you will find that this time in your life isn’t as stressful or overwhelming as you once thought it was going to be.
The most essential thing to remember when deciding to move to a new location is to take time to think through the pros and cons of relocation.
By taking the time to do so, you can avoid stressful situations and make the right choice for your loved one.
Hi, my name is Eddie Lamb and I am passionate about teaching people how to care for the elderly at home. The debate on nursing homes is a fierce one, and in my experience, I have found that older people would prefer to remain in their own homes.
I have previously worked in a nursing home as a trained carer for 15 years. As you can imagine, I was able to talk to countless residents within the home and get to know them on a personal level.
I hope that you’ll find something of use on my website. I would love to think that I have helped just one older person remain at home, where they feel the happiest, during their final years.
