Think about the needs of everyone in your household. Depending on how healthy your parent is, and what their personality is like, having them live with you might be a blessing – or something less than that. Unless you live alone – which we will cover next – you will need to make sure your significant other and/or children are on board with your parent moving in. If you work full time but have other family members in the home, can you tag team care, so your parent has someone on call? Do you have some flexibility with your job to adjust your schedule as needed? Do you have any childcare duties that might conflict with looking after an elderly parent? 5. How much time do I have to look after my parent? So, even if you are getting along now, what will happen should a decline in cognitive abilities lead to a change in personality? This is not pleasant to think about – but it’s important to consider what life might look like in the coming months or years 4. Conditions like dementia tend to intensify over time. One more consideration: The physical and emotional effects of aging can create changes in your parent’s mood or behavior. However, if you’ve always butted heads, living with each other will most likely lead to the same sort of conflicts – or worse.
If you like to be around each other and know how to work through problems, then you might make a great match. Do a reality check on how well the two of you get along. There’s a difference between loving your parent dearly and being able to live with them successfully. What is my relationship with my parent like? Are there stairs to navigate by the front door? If it’s a multistory residence, can Mom or Dad stay in a bedroom with a bathroom on the first floor? If they use a walker or wheelchair, is the bathroom door wide enough for access? Will your home need to be retrofitted with things like grab bars in the bathroom? Can you eliminate any tripping hazards or other safety issues? In other words, can you realistically make your house “elderly friendly?” 3. Imagine you are your parent walking up to your house. Is my home set up properly for an elderly resident? Think about how much you’re able and willing to take on. If being your parent’s primary caregiver makes you anxious, but you still feel you “must,” that could be a sign that guilt is driving the conversation in your head. What will happen when your parent’s health changes in the future? Make plans for it now. Are they able to manage the basic activities of daily living? This includes things a healthy adult takes for granted, such as bathing or showering, getting dressed and using the toilet. To do this, consider how your mom or dad is doing physically, mentally and emotionally. Take time to think about the types of care – and the level of expertise – that your parent requires.
Ask yourself these questions before committing to moving your parent out of their home and into yours.Ĭhecklist: Preparing for Your Parent to Move In 1. You might have less privacy, more inconvenience and a disruption to the daily rhythm of your household. On the other hand, there is a different set of costs to look at. Moving elderly parents in typically costs less than relocating them to a senior living community. If Mom or Dad is active and has the energy, they can help around the house, babysit the kids and maybe even contribute financially. It will give the family a chance to enjoy each other’s company. Is moving in with your parent – or having them move in with you – the right move? There can be advantages when a parent moves in. You may wonder if it’s safe for Mom or Dad to continue living on their own. Occasional forgetfulness turns into a noticeable cognitive decline. The normal tasks of daily living become too much to handle. They become ill and can’t care for themselves. Many older people enjoy life independently for many years without incident –and then, one day, something happens.