When your parents reach old age, they may require some form of elderly care to ensure they can continue living in a safe and secure manner. In such situations, people may consider having their aging parent move into an assisted living facility to get the care they need. In other cases, people may consider getting senior home care help that provides their elderly parents with the care they need right at home.
Having your aging parents move into your home to live with you is also an option. Adult children can provide their parents with a place to live and keep an eye on them and offer help when needed. Such an option has numerous benefits, but it is also important to note that living with an aging parent also has its downsides.
If you are thinking of having your aging parent move into your home, consider the following pros and cons.
Pros of Living with an Aging Parent
1. Saving Money on Home and Living Expenses
With your elderly parent living at home with you, they will not need to pay for their own residence and living expenses. This can be especially useful for seniors who cannot afford to keep their own place. Instead, aging parents can use that money to contribute to paying for your home’s utility bills and other living expenses. It can also be a more cost-effective option compared to paying for them to stay at a retirement home or other senior living facility.
2. Getting More Family Time
When you live apart from your aging parents, it can sometimes be difficult to find time to see them. You have your own life, work, and family to worry about. These things can take up a significant amount of your time, leaving little if any space in your schedule to go see your elderly parents. But that will not be an issue if they move in and live with you.
A great benefit of having your elderly parent living at home with you is getting to see them often and getting to spend more quality time together. If you have kids of your own, it also provides them with more opportunities to get to know and bond with their grandparents. This can strengthen the relationships you all have with one another and be an example of how you can give back to your parents by taking care of them.
Cons of Living with an Aging Parent
1. Making Additional Accommodations
You and your family may feel safe and comfortable at home, but the same cannot necessarily be said for your elderly parents.
Seniors are more prone to falling and tend to have poorer vision. They may need more lighting in the home and more stability from handrails and other tools to get around the home more safely. Many residences already have handrails installed in the stairwells, but handrails could also be helpful for seniors in the bathroom. Having a handrail or grab bar can help them be safe when they bathe by preventing slips and falls.
Knowing this, you may need to make modifications to your home to accommodate your aging parent’s needs.
2. Having Less Privacy
Getting to spend more time with your parents is great, but everyone needs privacy every once in a while. This, however, can be a tougher achievement if your aging parent lives with you. Moments to yourself can be fewer, especially if your parent needs your help.
3. Taking on More Responsibilities
As aforementioned, seniors will often require some form of care to help them live their lives in a safe manner. For some elderly individuals, this just means part-time assistance with things like meal preparation and someone to provide transportation. But some seniors may need full-time home care, requiring help with getting dressed, bathing, personal hygiene, and more.
You already dedicate time to your work and your own family. With your aging parent living at home with you, you may find yourself using any other free time you have to help them. With these added responsibilities, it is easy to become stressed. Caregiving is not an easy responsibility to take on either, so being stressed can make it tougher to provide effective care. This new dynamic can sometimes take a toll on the relationship you have with your parent.
Home Care Assistance
If you are considering having your aging parent move in with you, you can ensure they have the elderly care they need by hiring professional help from a home care agency.
At Assisting Hands, we offer personal assistance and home care services in Park Ridge, IL, and the neighboring Chicago suburbs to ensure elderly individuals have the assistance they need at home. Our caregivers are qualified professionals who will provide personal assistance and senior home care. With their help, you will not need to worry about whether you have the time to assist your elderly parent. Instead, you can use your free time to spend quality time with your loved one.
Contact Us
Call (847) 796-6685 to learn more about our personal assistance and home care services in Park Ridge, IL, and the surrounding areas of Cook County.
