When aging parents are in need of help in order to remain safe at home, there are a few options. Some families choose to combine households when this occurs. However, moving Mom and Dad into your home is never a step to be taken lightly. It is essential to consider how this move will affect you, your family, your home, and your lifestyle. It’s equally important to think about the effects this type of change will have on your parents as well.
Living with multiple generations in the home can be a wonderful experience that allows for deep bonds to form between younger and older family members. Grandchildren, and even adult children, can get to know their older loved ones in new ways. It can also help older loved ones avoid the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can often arise when living alone.
However, adding family members to the household also means adding their personalities, likes, dislikes, etc. And sometimes, what once were funny quirks that you noticed in Mom and Dad on holiday visits become annoyances when they are in close proximity for extended periods of time.
What Should I Consider Before Moving My Aging Parents Into My Home?
Before moving Mom and Dad into your home, work through the following steps:
- Before making any big changes to your household, ask yourself these questions:
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- What effect will this have on my spouse/partner and/or children?
- How will having my parents around affect our family’s activities and routine?
- Will I need to change my work schedule or routine to accommodate having my parents in the home?
- Do I have any unresolved issues with my parents?
- How well does my spouse/partner get along with my loved ones?
- Are there any personality traits or tendencies in my parents that concern or upset me or my other family members?
- Will we need to remodel the house in order to accommodate this move? If so, how will we pay for it?
- How will we handle family vacations or other outings? Will my parents come with us or will we need respite care?
- How will we set boundaries?
- Do my parents feel comfortable moving here?
- How do I feel about this?
- Next, have your parents consider these questions about moving into your home:
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- Will moving in with my child take me away from the people and place I love?
- Do I enjoy being with the family for long periods of time?
- Are there any issues or personality traits within the family that bother me?
- How do I feel about being dependent on my loved ones?
- How will I ensure that I feel at home and have the things that I like or need?
- Have an open and honest discussion about everyone’s expectations, fears, and concerns about living with one another. The conversation may feel uneasy at first, but it is important to hear all feelings and concerns and to make a plan to work through them before making any big changes.
- Write down positive aspects as well. For example, having the kids around their grandparents more will help them grow closer. You’ll also know for sure that your parents are safe and you can monitor any changes in abilities more easily. Review this list whenever you feel uncertain.
The decision to move Mom and Dad into your home is a big one, and even with the added family support, help may still be needed from time to time. Partnering with a trusted in-home care agency, like Abrio Home Care, can allow you to take a break from caregiving duties while ensuring your loved ones remain well cared for.
Our respite care services are ideal for multigenerational households and can help maintain a balance between care and family. Our full range of in-home care services can also be utilized for older loved ones who have decided to stay in their own homes. Our professional caregivers can assist with:
- Personal care
- Meal planning and prep
- Companionship
- Transportation to and from outings and appointments
- Medication management
- And much more
If you would like to learn how our home care services can help your family, simply give us a call at 877-71-ABRIO or fill out our online contact form.