If you have an elderly loved one who can no longer live on their own, you might have a difficult decision to make. On the one hand, they could go and live in a care home and get around the clock care from a team of professional carers. But when it comes to a close relative, such as an elderly parent, you may not believe they will be happy living in a care home.
One consideration that you might be giving serious thought to is having them live in your own home. Before taking the plunge, these are some of the areas that you should consider in order to decide whether they should move in with you.
DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR THEM?
If you are thinking about having an elderly relative move into your home, you should think about whether you have enough space for all of your family and them. It might be quite a tight squeeze, which could make the atmosphere uncomfortable and tense.
If you have a spare room and your home is quite spacious, then there may be enough space for them to move in.
DO YOU NEED TO CARRY OUT ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR HOME?
Does your loved one have any type of mobility issues? If so, you may need to consider getting a chair lift or having rails fitted around the home. They may need a step in bath or show, in which case you may need to renovate your bathroom.
If mobility is not a problem right now, you may need to consider whether it will be an issue in the future.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO MAKE THEIR LIFE EASIER?
Are there things that you can get for your loved one to make their life easier? You might want to get lightweight velcro shoes for elderly people and a TV remote with larger buttons. There are lots of helpful gadgets that you can get to help your loved one to do things for themselves. When they come to live with you, you should continuously be looking for ways of allowing them to maintain their independence through the use of these special aids.
CAN YOU BE THERE ENOUGH FOR THEM?
In order to make sure your loved ones are cared for properly, they may require someone to be at home with them at all times. If this is not necessary right now, consider whether it will be something that they will need in the future.
Is there someone who can be at home with them? Will they need help getting up and about, or with things like washing, dressing, and eating? Understanding the specific needs of your loved one is important.
You should also think about what you will do if you are unable to care for them for any length of time. For example, if you need to go away, or you get sick. Having a backup plan in place will be something that is essential.
