With the rising costs of medical care in nursing homes and extended care facilities, more adult children and grandchildren are being called on to care for sick, elderly grandparents in the home. At the same time, many aging grandparents prefer to stay at home when they can, according to researchers at the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). You should take a number of considerations into account when planning to care for sick, elderly grandparents.
Step 1
Get out all of your grandparent's insurance policies and read them thoroughly. Find out what home care services are covered and what guidelines must be fulfilled to get those covered services. Your grandparents may need a certain diagnosis or a referral from a doctor for services such as in-home nursing visits, medical equipment and other helpful activities such as housework, shopping and visiting.
Step 2
Contract with a local nursing agency, food delivery service and whatever other services you have found are paid for by insurance or provided by a community agency. After you have filled in the calendar with professional services, you will have a better idea of the time you will need to build into your own schedule for your grandparent as well as what kinds of duties you may be required to fulfill.
Step 3
Remove clutter from your grandparents' home and bring in aids that will help your grandparents move around and safely engage in various activities. For example, remove scatter rugs on which your grandparent can trip. You might also open up walkways to make space to a wheelchair or walker. Put up holding bars in the bathroom to help your grandparent lower himself to the commode and to get in and out of the bathtub.
Step 4
Organize pills and other medical instructions. Leave the list and calendar in plain sight for other caregivers to use. Include the times when your grandparent must be moved or bathed, what kind of physical therapy needs to be done and when you do it. Set up a routine for meals and other activities to make the process easier for you and your grandparent.
Step 5
Ask your grandparent what she needs and try to respond to her wishes. At the same time, you must set boundaries and follow the doctor's instructions. You may be required to make some hard decisions to which your grandparent may not agree. Practice being firm and consistent.
Tips and Warnings
- If your grandparent is experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's, put locks on the doors that he cannot operate without your help. Lock cabinets and other sources of danger when you must step out or when you leave a room. By creating a safer environment, you do not have to be vigilant, watching over your sick, elderly grandparent at all times.
- Avoid burnout and becoming emotionally drained by joining a caregivers' support groups at a local community center or an online support group. You can share openly with other people who understand your situation because they are experiencing many of the same issues. You can get tips and support from other members in the group.
Things You'll Need
- Insurance policies
- Outside contractors
- Accessibility equipment
- Calendar
- Locks
