Taking care of your aging parents is a big responsibility, and is a subject that deserves a lot of time and consideration. Not only will the lifestyles of your elderly loved ones change, but it will also affect the person who takes them in. There are a lot of factors to discuss before making a decision about which family member will care for your elderly parents. Here are a few things to consider.
Do You Have The Time?
When choosing whose home might best suit your aging parents, it’s important to ask yourself how much time and assistance you can provide. Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. Analyze how much help they’ll require. If your parents need assistance with activities like bathing and dressing, ask yourself if you’re comfortable performing these tasks. If you’re busy with work and your own children, think about who could help them when you’re away. If the answer is no one, this may not be the best place for your elderly parents to move.
How Will This Affect Your Family?
When considering moving an elderly adult into a family member’s home, it’s crucial to think about how it will affect everyone living there. Think about things like meals, noise levels and shared spaces; ask yourself whose lifestyle would be most compatible with your elderly loved one.
If there are young children or teenagers living in the home, contemplate if the move will create animosity or affect them negatively. It’s critical to consider how all these elements will affect the family dynamic as a whole.
Do You Get Along?
Another major question to consider: who gets along best with your aging parents? Reflect on the history of your family’s relationships and determine who could live together peacefully. Even if you feel obligated to care for them, it’s important to be realistic about your relationship. You may feel you’re doing the right thing by moving your aging family member into your home, but if you’re both miserable, it’s simply not worth it.
Do you have more questions about taking care of an elderly family member?
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As the most experienced CPA in the Inland Empire who specializes in working with seniors, Marcia L. Campbell is committed to helping each client thrive by caring for their personal and financial wellbeing with genuine interest, well-established expertise, and a focus on respectful partnerships. Marcia’s team specializes in a number of services including elder & financial care, court & trust accountings as well as private fiduciary and tax services. At Marcia L. Campbell, CPA, we understand the importance of our clients’ individual needs and are committed to helping them make the best personal and financial decisions for their future.