Are your elderly parents no longer able to look after themselves? Finding the right care option for your parents can be difficult and there may be factors to consider such as the cost and flexibility. Here are just three of the main options worth considering.
Care for them yourself:
Many people choose to take on the role of carer themselves. This may involve having to give up your job and other commitments depending on the level of care that they need. Fortunately, you will be entitled to a carer’s allowance which could help you to fund yourself.
If you currently don’t live with your parent, you’ll have decided whether they should move in with you or whether you move in with them. If they decide to live with you, you may have to make certain home modifications such as adding a stairlift or walk-in shower. Government grants can provide some funding for this if you don’t think you can afford these improvements yourself.
Becoming a carer for your parents will be mentally and physically challenging – many people may feel that they are giving up too much. You may also have to consider your parent’s wishes – if they are only physically affected they may contest the idea of you becoming their carer, whilst other parents may prefer this option.
Look into in-House Care:
Another option could be to hire an in-house carer to look after your parent. This could be on a full-time basis or on a part-time basis (many people hire a carer for an hour or two a day for tasks such as getting them washed and dressed).
There are private duty care services out there that can provide flexible care programmes for your parent. It’s worth compare various services out there to find the one that appeals to you most – pricing and level of care provided can vary. You may even want to interview carers to find one that you think would get along best with your parent (if your parent is only physically affected, they may be able to help make this decision).
Consider a Care Home:
Care homes are the most expensive option. That said, they can be the best option for those suffering severe mental or physical disability as they provide 24-hour care in an environment that is specially set up to care for the elderly.
When finding a care home, there are likely to be various factors worth weighing up such as the location, the cost and the services provided. It’s possible to take tours of care homes – this might allow you to ask the staff questions and judge the conditions for yourself. It could also be worth reading reviews and seeing what other people think. There are specialist care homes out there for certain conditions such as dementia or mobility issues.
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