Taking care of an elderly parent in her home or yours requires careful thought. You must consider a number of factors to assure your parent lives in a safe and secure environment. You may need to address other considerations as needs and demands for care-giving change. Caregiver support is very important in caring for the elderly, and can make your job in providing care easier. Care giving affects entire families. Before starting, be aware of the basic needs and factors of in-home care.
Safety
Safety is a key issue in providing at home care. Reducing the risk of accidents, slips and falls is of primary importance for caregivers and seniors. Go through the house room by room and identify potential fall risks or hazards for elderly safety. Home care environments for seniors diagnosed with any form of dementia will need vigilant inspection and monitoring.
Finances
Determining the status of your parent's finances and yours will help you provide better care. If your parents are on Medicare, it will cover many of their medical services and products. Even so, understand your own financial situation in case your parent needs equipment or a type of care not covered by their medical insurance. Understand what their insurance policies do and do not cover. Know the basics about Medicare and Medicaid and their covered services. Discuss power of attorney, end-of-life care, advanced directives or do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, as well as potential need for round-the-clock or nursing home care. Understand the financial aspects of such needs and whenever possible, discuss them with your parents.
Medications
Ask your parent's doctor for a list of his medications. Take the time to learn and understand their use. Know what will happen if he doesn't take the medication on time, or if he accidentally takes too much. If you dispense the drugs, know the proper dosage, scheduling needs, and whether he should take any with meals.
Social Life
Home-based caregivers for the elderly also need to meet the emotional and social needs of their parents. Make sure your parent gets out at least once or twice a week for social events. Try to keep your parents involved in community events. Encourage them to attend gatherings at the local senior center for peer-based activities. Even if your parents don't want to volunteer or mingle with others, take them on a drive, or to the park or a museum. Help them stay as mentally stimulated as possible, and give them the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the scenery.
