Last Updated on 6 months by Isreal Olabanji DST RN
You know that becoming a full-time carer for your elderly parents isn’t going to be easy, but it still could be more than you’ve bargained for. Take a look at the reasons why becoming their carer isn’t the best idea, and what you can do instead.
The Difficulties of Becoming a Carer
Taking care of your parents is a kind and noble thing to do, but there are some difficulties that come with it.
It Will Affect Your Mental Health
Suffering from caregiver stress is really common for adult children who help their elderly parents. The role is demanding and gives you very little time to unwind and decompress on your own terms. It can get overwhelming and lead to burnout.
It Could Put Your Life on Pause
Becoming the sole caregiver for your parents is a full-time job — except you don’t get to clock out at 5:00 pm. You will be working constantly, providing meals, running errands, attending appointments and more. And it will pile on top of your other responsibilities, like doing your laundry, filling your fridge with groceries and watching your kids. You might be juggling two separate lives.
It’s a demanding role to take all on your own, and it will push you to put everything else on pause. Lots of caregivers quit their jobs and put their careers on hold to help their parents, even if it hurts them socially and financially.
It Could Complicate Your Relationship with Your Parents
Being their caregiver and child will complicate things. You might find that your parents don’t want to listen to you and resist your advice. They could get frustrated with your actions or feel embarrassed that you’re seeing them in a vulnerable state. It’s a delicate situation.
What Should You Do Instead?
You should consider an alternative that doesn’t put all of the caring on your shoulders. Start looking for retirement housing options for your family that have accessible suites and flexible care options. By choosing a top-quality senior care home, you can guarantee that your parents have access to dining services, laundry services, apartment cleaning and more. All of those responsibilities can get taken right off of your plate.
The right senior care home will also be ready for the challenges of ageing. They have buildings that are built with mobility issues in mind. So, if your parents need wheelchairs or walkers to get around, they won’t deal with as many obstacles. The home will also be staffed with professionals that can provide care for seniors with mobility problems, physical ailments or memory problems. So, if your parents are showing signs of dementia and need special attention, the nursing staff is ready to handle it.
With this option, you can adjust the care services to meet your parents’ needs. If they’re fairly independent and don’t need any help, then they don’t need to sign up for anything. If they’re starting to have trouble completing daily tasks, then they can sign up for help. The option for more is always there.
In the end, this decision isn’t just going to be better for you — it could be better for your parents, too. They’ll be well taken care of, and they’ll get to cherish their relationship with you as their child, not their nurse.
