Exploring the Pros & Cons of Elderly Parents Living in Their Own Home
Deciding what living situation is most appropriate for an elderly parent or loved one can be difficult. On the one hand, keeping them at home may seem to be more comfortable and more affordable. On the other hand, living at home can impose added stress on the family and may eventually become unsafe.
No one can predict what the future will hold. The only thing you can do is be informed about your decision and consider the pros and cons of elderly living in their own home. As you consider the factors, make sure to discuss your options with your elderly loved one and other family members involved in providing care.
For guidance on this decision, keep reading to learn about a few pros and cons of elderly living in their own home.
Pros
There are undeniable benefits of keeping your elderly loved one at home. Aging at home allows them more regular family time, offers familiar surroundings, and can ease the financial burden of care.
Regular Family Time
Even though you’ll be able to see your elderly loved one regardless of whether they live at home or in a community, spending time with family is often easier at home. When seniors live at home, they tend to have more flexible schedules, and you don’t have to worry about a senior living community’s visiting hours.
Regular family time can have lots of benefits for the overall well-being of your elderly loved one, so it is an important factor to consider.
Familiar Surroundings
Seniors can face a lot of uncertainty as they navigate through retirement. From declining health to combating loneliness to questions about finances, the later years in life can be stressful at times.
Allowing your loved one to stay in a familiar setting can help them feel like they have control and provide some stability. Familiar surroundings can be particularly helpful to seniors who are struggling with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Ease Financial Burden
It is unfortunate, but one of the most important factors in considering the pros and cons of elderly living in their own home is how it will impact the family’s finances. While moving an elderly parent or loved one to an assisted living community has benefits, it can also come at a great cost.
Helping a loved one remain in their home can allow them to use their hard-earned retirement dollars on things like home improvements, health care, hobbies, or other retirement activities.
These are just a few pros of keeping your elderly loved one at home. Every situation is different, and you should consider each factor with great care.
Cons
While there are important benefits that come along with the elderly living in their own home, they do not come without a cost. Here are a few cons of allowing an elderly loved one to live in their own home.
Responsibility and Stress
Even if your elderly loved one doesn’t need much assistance today, that may not always be the case.
Most elderly people will eventually need help with grocery shopping, cooking, paying bills, and other everyday tasks. When they live in their own home, these responsibilities often fall to a family member, quickly creating a stressful situation for all parties involved.
Lack of Adequate Care
A guiding factor in considering the pros and cons of elderly living in their own home is what level of care the elderly person requires. When an elderly person lives in their own home, providing them with the care they need and deserve can be more difficult.
If your loved one needs a high level of care, such as assistance with bathing or medication administration, they need skilled care that a family member may not be able to provide. In addition, some homes are simply not set up to allow for a family caregiver to adequately provide care each day.
Lack of Structure
As seniors age, they benefit from having structure in their lives. This structure can include regularly planned meals, daily and weekly activities, or any other consistency in their day-to-day schedule.
When seniors live in their own homes, there is no structure to keep them on track. Particularly for seniors living alone, the lack of a daily schedule can make it easier for them to skip exercise, forget medications, and develop feelings of loneliness.
Find Middle Ground with Help from an In-Home Caregiver
If you are considering the pros and cons of elderly living in their own home, you should also consider how an in-home caregiver can help bridge any gaps.
An in-home caregiver delivers meaningful and skilled care services that allow elderly people living at home to get the care they need while remaining in their house. In-home caregivers provide a range of services from daily personal care to housekeeping to transportation.
If you are on the fence and uncertain about the future of your loved one living at home, consider what in-home caregiving can do for you and your loved one.
If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of a plan to age in place, contact Family Matters In-Home Care today for a free consultation. Our team is dedicated to supporting your family and helping older adults enjoy life in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.
Some of the services offered by Family Matter In-Home Care include: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Bed & Wheelchair Transfer Assistance, Companionship, Housekeeping & Meal Preparation, Personal Care, Recovery Care, and Transportation.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater San Diego, Family Matter In-Home Care has offices throughout California including: Campbell, CA, Roseville, CA, San Marcos, CA, and San Mateo, CA.
