Your parents have cared for you all your life. They’ve been there for every up and down in your life and you may feel that it’s your duty to return the favor later when they can’t take care of themselves like they used to. Caring for an aging parent is among the most noble acts a child can perform.
The reality is that caring for an aging parent often extends beyond driving them to the grocery store or the doctor. Worsening health can quickly make it difficult for you to properly care for your parent like you want. This situation can feel overwhelming but the thought of putting your parent in a nursing home may make you feel guilty.
No one wants to feel like they’re giving up on their parent but sometimes moving them into a nursing home is in the best interest of you and your mother or father. Moving your parent into a nursing home isn’t giving up as much as it is acknowledging that you need help. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you need help caring for an aging parent and some reasons people choose to move their parents into a nursing home include:
- You can’t be there 24/7. Chances are that you have a family and working life of your own. Realistically, caring for an aging parent alone is often a full-time job. Knowing that someone is there for them around the clock to track doctors’ appointments and making sure they take their medications can provide peace of mind.
- You can no longer provide them proper care. Unless you work in healthcare, caring for advancing dementia, mobility, and other physical issues can be challenging. Attempting to continue to care for them in these situations could jeopardize your personal health and your parent’s health. Having your parent in a facility can allow them to receive the care they need.
- You cannot afford in-home care. Did you know that the national average cost for in-home health aides is $4,000 a month? Most households don’t have thousands of dollars extra per month to spend and nursing homes are sometimes a better financial decision. There are many programs available to seniors to help them pay for residential care.
Choosing to place your aging parent in a nursing home or assisted living facility isn’t an easy decision. However, sometimes it’s the best decision for you, your parent and family overall. After all, isn’t the most important thing is that your parent is receiving the care they need?
