When our elderly loved one is unable to function independently, the question of arranging care arises. This is a challenge that requires delicacy and understanding, especially when responsibilities fall on the shoulders of the senior’s children. Each case requires an individual approach. To be able to provide the best possible support, it is necessary to consider the varied needs of the elderly person, as well as the different abilities and willingness of loved ones to provide care.
Navigating this tricky terrain requires tact, empathy, and cooperation. Conflicts, while natural in such situations, can negatively affect not only the well-being of the elderly person, but also relationships within the family. In this article, we will focus on voluntarily, cordially organizing support for seniors. We will discuss how to divide caregiving responsibilities to consider both the needs of the senior and the capabilities and good intentions of the children.
At the outset, we would like to point out that a certain duty of care to the elderly can be fulfilled in various ways. For example, elderly parents can agree to have their children provide alternate care. Another way is to remotely organize and monitor assistance, or opt for hourly assistance. You can read about all these methods later in the article. However, we mention them at the very beginning to show that limited time or financial possibilities do not have to impact the non-fulfillment of care obligations. It is worth remembering that with a little willingness and cooperation of all family members, helping an elderly person is definitely easier.
For the purposes of this article, we will not touch on the legal aspects that may seem like a last resort in arranging care. Instead, we will consider whether children have a moral obligation to care for their parents. In addition, we will discuss ways to surround them with selfless support, including material and emotional assistance. We will show how cooperation and mutual understanding can bring positive results for all involved.
What types of care are offered by care companies?
Companies providing care services for the elderly are aware of the diversity of their clients’ needs and expectations. For this reason, the types of care they offer vary greatly, and the care agencies themselves show great flexibility in tailoring care to the individual requirements of the senior.
Care companies offer both long-term care and occasional assistance, tailored to the changing needs of the senior. Among the most commonly offered services are:
Round-the-clock home care for seniors with residence
When a senior requires around-the-clock support, a 24-hour residential home care service may be the best choice. Specialized care services are characterized by a high degree of flexibility, as in this type of care the caregiver or caregiver resides with the senior, tailoring their help and support to his individual requirements and needs.
The qualifications of caregivers vary greatly, allowing you to choose the right person depending on the senior’s condition and requirements. Before deciding a caregiver, it is worthwhile to determine the scope of the necessary activities to be performed, such as assistance with daily activities, support in the administration of medications and even specialized medical care.
When selecting the appropriate one, it’s worth checking the current offers of private care services along with the price list to find the solution that best suits the senior’s needs and the family’s financial capabilities. Remember that the right choice of care is crucial for the comfort and safety of your senior, as well as for the peace of mind of the entire family.
Hourly care in a senior’s home
In the context of caring for seniors, we are very frequently faced with a situation where the extent of assistance needed changes seamlessly. In such cases, considering hourly care at the beginning is not only practical, but also economical and flexible. This form of care allows you to gradually adjust the support to the current needs of the senior, without having to immediately decide on full-time care.
Under hourly care, the range of duties performed by the caregiver is carefully tailored to the individual needs of the senior. This can include assisting with daily activities such as meal preparation, cleaning, shopping, as well as accompanying to medical appointments or helping with medication. The essence of this model is to provide care that is flexible and tailored to the senior’s needs.
Hourly care is also an excellent option for families who can provide a certain level of support, but require extra help at certain times of the day or on specific days of the week. This gives the family some freedom and a chance to relax, while ensuring that their loved one receives the care and attention they require.
Retirement homes
When considering how to divide your senior care responsibilities among your children, you are probably ruling out the possibility of nursing home care at this time. However, the problem of the duty of care can also be solved in this way, so it is worth keeping this option in mind. This is especially important because of the future needs of the senior citizens. There may come a time when your loved one will require constant professional medical and nursing care, which the family will not be able to provide at home.
Therefore, it is worthwhile now to get an idea of the available nursing home options, their standard, the types of services provided and the cost. It can also be useful to get information on the length of the wait for a place. Planning ahead will allow you to make a more informed and thoughtful decision should the need arise.
What kind of care is needed?
When beginning the process of arranging care for a senior, it is crucial to understand when and what kind of help our loved one requires. Often, at the very beginning of assistance, a senior’s needs may be relatively limited. Before deciding on a more advanced form of care, it’s a good idea to take inventory of what kind of help a senior may need and in what intensity.
Examples of a senior’s needs might include:
- Help with daily activities: This could be support with shopping, cooking, cleaning or arranging medical appointments.
- Medical support: Includes medication management, assistance with proper hygiene, and sometimes assisting with simple medical procedures.
- Companionship and emotional support: Seniors typically require someone to talk to, spend time together, or just the presence of a loved one.
- Mobility support: Assistance with mobility, both in and out of the home, can be important, especially if the senior is struggling with mobility limitations.
- Living space adjustments: Changes may need to be made to the home to make it safer and more accommodating for the senior.
Types of duties when supporting a senior citizen
Caring for a senior citizen is a complex task in which responsibilities can be varied and change from day to day. Sometimes help is needed daily, while other times less frequent or even occasional support will suffice. The key to effectively dividing these responsibilities is to consider the abilities and preferences of each person in the family who wants to help. It is worth remembering that support can take many forms — not only direct care, but also material or organizational assistance.
Financing a caregiver for an elderly person
The decision to use professional care services inevitably involves certain fees. Often it happens that the senior himself does not have sufficient funds to cover this cost. At the same time, he cannot expose himself to the lack of care. In such situations, relatives can take on the financing of care, sharing the responsibilities and fees according to the solution worked out together.
It is also worth trying to get a care allowance. It can be a significant relief for the family, which has to cover other expenses in addition to those related to the care of the senior. To achieve this, visit the social welfare center and find out whether the senior is entitled to such support.
In addition, it is important to remember that even everyday activities such as shopping — especially when done online — can generate additional costs. Covering these expenses also becomes part of shared responsibilities.
When speaking with siblings and other relatives about sharing financial obligations related to caregiving, an empathetic approach and respect for each family member’s current capabilities is key. It is significant for all participants in the conversation to remember that the central point of these arrangements is concern for the well-being of the senior. Open communication, understanding of different life situations, and seeking a fair solution will help create a plan that supports the loved one without overburdening any family member.
Spending more time
Supporting seniors emotionally is just as influential as physical care, especially in the context of debilitating old age and emerging diseases. Neglecting psychological care can have unpleasant consequences for mental and physical health. Many elderly people suffer from loneliness, especially as their friends also become less mobile, leading to their systematic social isolation. That’s why it’s important for loved ones to be aware of this, and to the best of their ability, try to go out of their way to help the senior.
The division of responsibilities for spending time with the senior should consider the closeness of the relationship. Meetings with people with whom the senior is particularly connected have great emotional value. However, it is crucial that this duty do not rest on the shoulders of one person. Ideally, visits should be scheduled between family members, which not only relieves the burden on individual members, but also ensures that the senior has regular contact with loved ones.
Regular visits, spending time together, or even a phone call can greatly improve the senior’s well-being, helping him or her to feel needed, loved and included in the family’s life. This is an invaluable value that translates into a better quality of life for the senior.
Remote coordination of support
From a moral point of view, every child has a duty to support a parent. However, as we know very well, life writes different scenarios, and it happens that children towards their parents do not feel this duty. It is not uncommon for a person in need of care to be on bad terms, even with those closest to him. Therefore, we should not expect the family to want to actively participate in the care of the senior citizen. However, it is worth noting that the duty to help parents can also be fulfilled remotely, without directly participating in their lives.
Nowadays, thanks to technology, there are many ways to relieve the senior’s daily responsibilities without even being physically present. The less the senior has on his or her plate, the less pressure and stress he or she will have to deal with daily.
One key aspect of remote support is paying bills. In the age of online banking, children can easily take over the management of a senior’s finances, setting up automatic payments and monitoring expenses. This allows the senior to avoid the stress of paying bills on time and gives them a sense of financial security.
Another important element is to ensure regular deliveries of the most necessary items. By using online shopping and home delivery services, you can ensure that seniors have constant access to essential products such as food, hygiene products or medicines. This solution is not only convenient, but also safe, especially in the context of reducing the need for seniors to leave home.
Coordinating such remote support may require initial organization and planning, but eventually, it brings significant relief to both the senior and their family. Therefore, it is worth organizing a meeting with the family at the beginning regarding the care of an elderly loved one. Honest conversation, mutual support and family responsibility is one way to establish an action plan that allows not only to organize appropriate care, but also to support the loved one. It’s a great way to show care and love, while ensuring the senior is comfortable and safe in their own home.
How to organize help when the family has little time
Faced with the challenges of caring for seniors, families often face the dilemma of limited time. Private responsibilities of adult children typically prevent them from providing comprehensive care to the senior. Fortunately, with good intentions and the use of modern solutions, many tasks can be successfully organized, even with little involvement of loved ones.
- Online shopping is one of the easiest ways to ensure that seniors have regular access to the products they need. Online stores and pharmacies offer home delivery of purchases, which is convenient and saves time.
- Meal delivery services can be a real lifesaver. Using catering or ordering ready-made meals will provide seniors with healthy and balanced meals, without the need to cook every day.
- Automating payments and managing finances online is another step towards simplifying the life of seniors. Setting up standing orders for bills and using online banking allows you to avoid unnecessary stress related to payment deadlines and visits to the bank.
- Telecare and alarm systems are modern solutions that can ensure the safety of seniors at home, while giving the family peace of mind.
- Scheduling medical appointments online allows you to easily manage your medical calendar, which is especially important for regular health care.
- Supporting mobility with assistive tools such as canes or walkers can significantly improve a senior’s quality of life by increasing their independence.
- Cleaning services are a practical solution that allows you to keep your senior home in order without burdening the family with this responsibility.
- The use of technology, such as medication reminder apps for smartphones, can make everyday life easier for seniors.
Moreover, if a senior suffers from loneliness, it is worth initiating regular visits from friends or organizing family meetings. This will not only relieve the family, but also bring the senior the joy of contact with loved ones.
Remember that each senior has different needs and preferences, so it is critical to adapt these solutions to the individual situation. Well-organized assistance can significantly improve the quality of life of an elderly person, while minimizing the burden on the family.