Caring for Elderly at Home

5 Key Considerations in Caring for the Elderly at Home

Caring for elderly loved ones at home is a big job, but you don't have to do it alone. At Amazing Home Care, we're committed to helping you through the journey. To get you started, here are five things to consider when you start caring for an elderly person at home:

What level of care do they need? Some elders need round-the-clock care, while others only need supervision and a hand with specific daily living tasks. If your loved one needs constant care or skilled healthcare support, consider scheduling in-home help.
What equipment do you need to buy? If you're moving your loved one back home after a hospital or nursing home stay, find out what medical equipment they need. Ask a company like American Home Care Equipment about ordering.
Who else is involved?No caregiver does it alone. Some families are lucky to have multiple younger members participating in elder care. Other elders have one family caregiver and rely on paid help for everything else. Whatever your situation is, make sure you have enough assistance.
How will you take care of yourself?You've probably heard the saying, "You can't pour from an empty cup." Being a caregiver can drain your personal energy reserves, and it's essential to refill them. Have a self-care plan, and consider using respite care when you need a break.
What is your long-term plan?Most elderly individuals need more care as they get closer to the end of their lives. Think about how you'll adapt when and if your loved one needs more intensive care. It can help to consult with professional in-home care providers in advance.

A Note on Caregiver Stress

Caregiver stress is a normal and understandable side effect of caring for elderly loved ones at home. It doesn't mean you love the person any less or don't want to be a caregiver.

It just means you've committed significant time and energy to caregiving, which is challenging. Most caregivers feel some level of stress from time to time, from mild to severe.

It's important to recognize and deal with your stress to avoid caregiver burnout. You're just as good a caregiver if you hire a respite service, or hire a home care aide so you can take a day off.

If you feel like your levels of stress are becoming unhealthy, consider talking to a therapist. Your local senior center may be able to refer you to people with experience working with caregivers.

Caring for Elderly at Home: Frequently Asked Questions

Start by preparing the home with equipment and safety modifications. Bookmark this page and use it as a checklist as you get ready.

Next, list what tasks your loved one needs help with. Think about what you can do and when you might need additional resources or outside support. Home health aides can help with everything from bathing and toileting to light housework.

Making sure the home is safe is job number one. Fall prevention and mobility are your priorities, especially if the person is sometimes unsupervised.

Moving from one room to another, or from the bed to a chair, can be dangerous for older people. Make sure there are safety features like supports and mobility aids everywhere they go.

Preparation is key, but things change quickly in older age. Stay alert to changes in your parent's needs and respond with more help as needed.

Caring for elderly parents is emotional and turbulent on both sides. Your parent may be frustrated or embarrassed to depend on you, their child, for things like bathing and dressing. They might resist, criticize, or outright refuse your help.

You may also experience some complicated feelings. You love your parent. But being a regular caregiver is time-consuming, and you have a full life already. You don't want to feel resentful, but those feelings can creep in.

You need two things to survive and maintain your mental health: patience and communication. Sit down with your parent and acknowledge the difficulty of this changing dynamic. Even if they have cognitive problems and can't fully process the conversation, they can feel your caring and concern.

Finally, remind yourself that you and your parent are doing your best. When that's not enough, remember to take regular breaks. You'll come back feeling more capable of working things out.

Only you and your family can answer that question. Some families and cultures expect children to care for their parents as they age. In others, relying on residential or full-time senior care is the norm.

If you have siblings, talk to them and see where everyone stands on the issue. If not, have that conversation with yourself. Weigh your feelings of responsibility with your ability to maintain a relationship. Talk it out with friends or a therapist.

If an older person lives alone and has no one to provide help, the risk of injury and poor health is high. They may be unable to dress, bathe, relieve themselves, or prepare nutritious meals.

Ideally, someone will learn of the person's situation and alert local authorities. If the person cannot manage their own affairs, the court will appoint a guardian. That guardian is responsible for the person's medical, financial, and personal affairs, which includes living arrangements.

Many people in this situation refer to themselves as "family caregivers" — or non-family caregivers if the elderly person isn't a relative. Some prefer "personal care aide" or "personal assistant." There's no official term, so choose what makes you feel comfortable.

The most needed services for elderly people living at home include:

Medication support.
Toileting and personal hygiene.
Meal preparation and feeding.
Dressing
Transferring to and from beds or chairs.

Every family's needs are different. Talk to Amazing Home Care about how we can help support your loved one

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