What can be done for sick parents besides a nursing home?
Question:
Answers:
Try an assisted living service. They actually have caregivers come and help your parents with things at their home. One can be found at http://www.seniorshomecare.com
There is something called Home Health care, respite services , Daycare for adults and all sorts of alternatives to Nursing Homes. You can also hire a sitter for your loved one.
In many areas there are agencies that provide in-home non-medical care for pay, such as bathing, meal preparation, cleaning, companionship. This can postpone the need for nursing home care. I used to work as an accountant for one called Visiting Angels. Make sure they screen their caregivers.
Home health agencies, adult daycare centers, private sitters. Just don't stick them in a nursing home. I worked at several for many years, and while the staff means well, they are horribly overworked, underpaid and constantly rushing to do things that their supervisors tell them have to be done. For instance, how on earth are 3 girls supposed to get up 20 patients on a hall that sleeps 32, dry the other 12 and do this in an hour, before breakfast is served? Not all nursing homes are like this, but more often than not, that's the way it is.
There are many resources available for eldercare. And there are eldercare professionals (often, social workers in private practice) who can help you locate needed services--at home, or in an assisted living setting.
When I was looking for my parents, I did a simple Google search for eldercare professionals in my area. The link below has some other resources.
That is a really hard decision. If they are temporarily sick, look into someone coming in the home for a time, and helping them out. Do hide all valuables, and preferably work it out with your siblings, and store everything in your homes. Keep an eye on the caretakers. Some are better than others. Ask around to people who have had to find help for their parents. Often the great caretakers have 1-2 families they take care of and don't operate through an agency.
If they are going downhill, with no signs of improving, talk to them about their issues. Negotiate what needs to be done for them. Sometimes, if people need around the clock care, it can be more costly than assisted living.
You and your siblings (if any) should get on the same page with regard to their care. If one of you takes on the major responsibility of providing for your parents, like has them live with them, they should be getting a larger share of an inheritance. It sounds sad, but they would be providing a service, and should be fairly compensated. Ideally, everyone would work together and share the burden. This can be tough, though, when there is a small family.
Good luck with your parents. It is a tough battle, especially since you can't tell them what to do, like you can when you have a child. Parents can be stubborn, and expect a lot of their grown children. I think it is because that generation rarely put their loved ones into homes, but they DID NOT live as long, and their were very LARGE families that shared in the care of the elderly.
More Questions & Answers...