If you have aging parents, you already know how tough it is to see your parents fragile and helpless. Many years ago, you might have promised your parents that you would never move them into a nursing facility.
You should never make such promises as these are bound to be broken.
With old age comes the decision – mostly for young adults – of entrusting their aging parents to the care of a nursing home, which is equally challenging.
You can read on to learn about things to consider when moving your loved one to a nursing home.
Dealing with Guilt: No One Wants to Let Down Their Parents
It can feel tough to back down on your promise. It is tough to live with the guilt that you are letting your loved one down.
In reality, some things you can never know before they happen – so there is no need to feel guilty.
Unfortunately, many people make such promises – only to break them later.
When you find yourself considering placing your loved one into a care setting, there are a few things that you should think about. For instance, you should think about what is best for them. Also, you should seriously think about what is best for the caregiver.
If there is a spouse, also think about what is best for them.
Safety Comes First – No Matter What
When thinking about what is best for your old parents, you should think about their safety. Make a decision about whether they will be able to live safely at home.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do your loved ones have the proper support? If the answer is no, then think about whether they will accept support.
- Is your loved one healthy and happy?
- Do they have enough income or funds to pay for care services?
- Have you asked your loved one about how they feel about the situation? Have you included them in the conversation?
Think About the Caregiver’s Safety
While thinking about all these different aspects, you should also think about what could be the best for the caregiver. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How is the well-being of the caretaker?
- Does the caregiver have the help they need to look after your aging loved one?
- Will their caregiver be willing to keep caring for the person?
What About the Spouse?
Also, think about the husband or wife of the aging loved one whom you are moving into a nursing home. If the aging parent stays at home, will their partner be able to take care of them with some help or independently? Ask the following questions:
Will they be able to live independently?
Will they be able to visit their loved ones at the care facility?
You get the point – there is so much to assess when it comes to sending your loved one to nursing home care.
Communicating is Mandatory – Not a Choice
Mostly, aging people have to move out of their homes into nursing homes because they are too weak and fall and get injured.
It is important to mention here that injuries also happen in nursing homes.
Speaking of injuries, bedsores are more common in nursing homes than one might think, which is why you might want to find out more about preventing bedsores in nursing homes and what you should do if it happens to your loved one.
Communicating is important. Now, it can be difficult to speak to your aging parents about their future living arrangements; however, make sure that your aging loved ones know that whatever is happening is for their safety and well-being.
Your parents might be old – but – they have the right to know what is going on and why they are moving to a nursing home.
Making Sure Moving is the Best Solution
When you are thinking about whether or not to move your old parents to a nursing home – make sure that the move is a solution. For instance, if your aging loved one is falling at home, then moving them into a nursing home might not stop the falling.
So, if the problem continues, then this isn’t the reason why your loved one should move to a nursing home. The point is that before moving your loved one, you must ensure that the problem stops.
Dealing with the Risk of Alzheimer’s
If your loved one has Alzheimer’s or is wandering – it is a huge safety concern, especially when you have already taken preventive measures, such as installing door alarms. If your loved one is still able to exit – this is a very dangerous situation.
It can be more dangerous if they live near water. They could also be living in a high-traffic area, which can place them in a dangerous situation.
Usually, nursing homes don’t have that many caregivers to hire one staff to tend to the needs of one person.
Also, nursing homes don’t want individuals with wandering cases as they are considered high liability.
Preparing for Emergency Situations
When it comes to safety and choosing whether or not your loved one needs nursing home care, you should think about whether or not your loved one will be able to get out of their house without help and safely in a bad situation.
Will they be able to understand that there is an emergency? For instance, if there is a fire – will your aging loved one be able to recognize that they are in a dangerous situation? Would they be able to call the police or the ambulance and tell them their address?
You get the point – when it becomes questionable whether or not the person with Alzheimer’s would be able to get out of the home independently – then it might be better for them to be in a nursing home care setting.
You can never compromise on the risks that are linked with being in an emergency situation and not being able to get out safely. In this case, it is definitely time for professional supervision and care that is available around the clock.