Aging Parents and the Holidays

By Bob Brueckman, Owner

Because the holidays provide us with many opportunities for family togetherness, the extra time spent with an aging loved one often reveals that Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa is no longer able to care for him or herself as well as he or she could the year prior. This realization can be especially obvious to those family members visiting from out-of-town, who may not have spent quality time with their aging loved ones since their last holiday visit.

When the needs of an aging loved one progress beyond his or her own capabilities, and there are issues with mobility, performing routine activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and toileting, meal preparation and medication management, family members are tasked with determining a course of action for the care of that person. The need for prompt decision-making may be even more crucial if dementia and other cognitive impairments are present or if one's personal safety is an area of concern.

As we age, there are multiple options available when the need for additional care arises, ranging from residential care facilities to in-home care services. For those that choose to “age in place” in familiar surroundings, either in their own home or in the home of a loved one, family members often play a key role in the day-to-day care of an aging person.

In an era when many of us remain in the workforce until our sixties or even seventies depending on our types of careers and interests the need for professional caregivers is present in most families with aging loved ones. Mom or Dad may simply need a couple of hours of assistance in the mornings and/or evenings, or he or she may require care and supervision for the bulk of the day depending on physical and cognitive functionality.

Whatever the need, there are services available in your community to ensure that your loved one is cared for, happy and above all safe when you are unable to provide that care and supervision yourself. Do your research there are a number of online resources available for finding eldercare services.

It's also important to find a caregiver with whom you feel comfortable entrusting the care of your loved one someone who wants he or she to be as safe and secure as you do and someone who gives you peace of mind knowing that your loved one's needs are being met.