If you have an elderly relative or parent who is increasingly needing more and more care, moving them into your home with you is often an option that many caregivers choose over putting them into a nursing home or opting for round the clock care at the elderly person’s home. Moving an elderly relative in with you means that you have access to them at all times and can deliver their care easily, however there are also a number of other things that you should take into consideration. We’ve put together a list of the different factors that you should think about before moving your elderly relative in.
Time
Although it may seem a nice idea to move your elderly relative into your spare room, before going ahead with any plans it’s important that you ask yourself if you have the time needed to be their primary caregiver. Depending on the level of care needed by your elderly relative, you may need to provide round the clock care or at least be available for a certain number of hours per day. Certain elderly people may need care that includes constant supervision, and you should ask yourself if you’ll be able to do this should you move them into your home.
Equipment and Adaptability
When it comes to moving an elderly relative into your home, your timetable and daily routine aren’t the only things that you will need to adapt. You will likely need to adapt your whole home to suit their needs, and make changes which include adding grab bars to the bathroom, widening doors in order to accommodate a wheelchair, and lowering handles and light switches to make it easier for your relative to operate them. In some cases, you may need to buy some items of special equipment which could range from a reclining armchair to fully operational home hospital beds such as these.
Other Care
When inviting an elderly relative into your home, additional care is something that you may need to consider. If your relative has a medical condition, it may be crucial that they see a nurse or other trained medical professional. Home carers can be arranged to visit your relative at different times of the day to administer medications and carry out necessary checks and assessments, and this can often be a good alternative if you are not confident to do this by yourself, or if you can’t provide all of the care on your own.
Lifestyle
Finally, when moving an elderly relative into your home you should carefully consider any lifestyle changes that you will need to undergo. You should also consider the changes made to their lives as well – will they be comfortable abiding by the rules of your home? How well do you both get on? If you have other family living at home, how do they feel about the move? These are all things that should be taken into consideration and answered honestly in order to make the best decision.
If you’d like to offer any helpful advice regarding moving an elderly relative into your home, we’d love to hear from you in the comments.
