You love your mom and dad, and only want the best for them. As they grow older, they may require extra assistance in their day-to-day tasks. And sometimes, that escalates to more care than you can provide.
When it starts to feel like your parent needs more help than you can give, you may begin considering other options. During this time, it’s normal to feel guilty or unsure. It may have been something you’ve put off for months – or even years.
However, your parents’ health and happiness are your top priorities. Therefore, you should recognize the signs that your mom or dad may need the services that a nursing home can provide.
Their memory is failing.
It may have been normal for your mom to forget milk at the grocery store, or for your dad to misplace his keys. But if this has escalated to forgetting important tasks regularly, it may be time to consider a nursing home.
Maybe your mom can’t remember to take her medication every day. Or your dad keeps failing to pay the bills on time. These acts of forgetfulness can have serious consequences. If your parent begins displaying signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s, it’s especially important that you begin looking into 24-hour care options.
They keep getting hurt.
As your parents’ age, their physical health will inevitably decline. Strokes, falls or complications from surgery can lead to many different medical issues. If your parents have difficulty taking care of themselves or continuously get hurt or sick, it may be time to look into nursing homes.
Nursing home staff are trained to help frail people with health conditions. They can also ensure that your mom or dad is getting out of bed regularly, eating healthily and exercising if possible.
You don’t have the time or resources.
Providing care for your mom or dad requires a lot of time, resources and flexibility. If you are the one who typically helps out, you should ask yourself:
- Do I have the flexibility to take off work if something goes wrong?
- Do I have the financial resources needed to provide long-term care?
- Do I have the time to assist in all the ways they need?
- Do I have the support I need to provide care?
Taking care of someone is a huge responsibility, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed if you can’t. If anything, it is responsible for you to realize when you can’t give the help that’s needed. That way, you can begin looking into other options.
It can be really hard to know when it’s time to consider nursing homes for your mom or dad. You might feel emotional or torn. But at the end of the day, you are only doing what is best for the person you love.
Kevin Tharpe
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