Situations That Call For A Caregiver
Deciding whether your aging loved one might need a caregiver can be tough. Your parents are the people who’ve cared for you for a good part of your life and now you find yourself in a situation where the roles are reversed. It’s now your job to make sure they get the care they need. Do they need a caregiver to meet their needs? The decision isn’t always simple. These are a few of the situations in which you might consider hiring a caregiver to help with your parents.
Situation 1: Your Parents Are Embarrassed About Needing Personal Help
How would you feel if you suddenly needed someone to help bathe you because you weren’t capable of doing it? It’s not easy to give up control and it can be rather embarrassing as well. Your parent might feel better having a caregiver —a professional who was hired to do the job and has done it before—instead of you, another family member, or friend helping out. A caregiver can take some of the embarrassment out of the issue. They can at least act normal about it around you and go on as if they don’t need the help. It gives them a sense of dignity they feel could’ve been lost.
Situation 2: Your Parents Are Having Trouble Maintaining The House
It’s a lot of work to cook, clean, and maintain a home. Your parents may not want any changes happening in their own household, but upkeep can become difficult as they get older. It’s a touchy subject to talk to your parents about the way they do things, but you’ll likely see signs around the house that it’s time for a caregiver. Once you have that conversation, they may even open up to having trouble in certain areas. Whether they need help cleaning, cooking, or doing regular maintenance, a caregiver can help.
Situation 3: Your Parent Is Just Out Of The Hospital
Caring for a healthy aging parent is one thing. Caring for an aging parent with a wound or illness is another. Perhaps you don’t have much knowledge about the kind of posttreatment care that’s required or maybe you aren’t sure what medications are OK to mix? A caregiver can give you (and them) peace of mind about their health and recovery. Your primary responsibility should be to make sure they get what they need and are able to recuperate in the comfort of their own home.
Situation 4: You Are Overwhelmed By Their Care
Many people will want to do their best to care for their aging parents and perhaps at first, it might not be so hard. But over time, as your loved one needs more and more help, it might be more than you can handle. Having a caregiver around will help take some of that responsibility off your plate so you can simply enjoy your time with them once again.
Getting The Right Caregiver
If you find yourself in any of those situations, or a number of others that call for a caregiver, contact the professionals at Agility Health with your questions and receive a free consultation.
We’re here to help!
