According to recent statistics, approximately 1.4 million people live in nursing care facilities.

If you’re not willing to let your parents live in a nursing home, the next best option is to move them in with you. While this is a genuine gesture on your part, having an elderly parent move into your home can bring about unexpected challenges.

That said, parent care is easier and safer if your parent lives with you rather than in their own home. Here are some tips to help you through this transition.

Plan Adequately for Parent Care

Will you be caring for your parents alone, or will this be a family effort?

If your parent can no longer live alone, he or she likely needs help with everyday tasks. If you have siblings, you may want to coordinate care and errands once the move is complete.

You are the child who’s opening their home to your parents, so it’s fair to ask siblings to step in and help with daily tasks like bathing or shopping.. If your siblings cannot pitch in, perhaps you can create a care team with your spouse and kids. In any case, don’t let the burden of caring for your parent fall solely on you.

Hire Help If You Need It

If no one else in your family can offer support, it’s ok to hire help. You can hire a daily visiting nurse or even a companion. Just because you’re caring for your elderly parents in your own home does not mean that you don’t need or deserve outside professional help.

When you hire caregivers for your elderly loved one, be sure to screen them first. Check their reputation and qualifications before you agree to sign a contract with them.

If you’re hiring help through an agency, ensure that the agency hires only reputable caregivers. Use sources like the Better Business Bureau to do your research.

Make Your Home Accessible

If your elderly parent has special needs, it’s important to prepare your home in ways that will make their life easier and more enjoyable. Comfort and accessibility is key.

For instance, if you have stairs at home, they will be inaccessible or even dangerous to an elderly individual with mobility challenges. Install a stair lift prior to the big move.

If your parent is losing their vision, it’s inconvenient and unsafe for them to live in a cluttered space. Clear any clutter from the main living areas of your home, and make sure to organize your parent’s belongings with their input. This way, they will know where everything is, and they’ll be able to access it easily.

It’s important to foster your parent’s independence as much as possible. Giving them access to daily tasks in a safe and effective way will help your parents stay active. Also, this will relieve you from some of the caregiving duties you might otherwise inherit.

Make Space for Your Parent

If this new living arrangement is long-term, your parent should have a separate space in your home to call their own. This will help both you and your parent establish boundaries and live comfortably. Investing in an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be worthwhile. Research sites like https://actonadu.com/ for more tips on how to get started with this type of project.

Ready for the Transition?

Are you confident about your transition into parent care?

Hopefully, the above tips help you live successfully and happily with your elderly parent. For more health and lifestyle tips, browse our blog regularly. Our content aims to inform and entertain for a better life.