As our population ages, caring for the elderly becomes a bigger and bigger dilemma. Many baby boomers are now faced with caring for their elderly parents or finding someone else to help. If they must work all day, these adult children of the elderly may find it difficult to find the right person to take care of their parents or other elderly family members.
Caregivers tend to be women but many men do an excellent job as well. When looking for someone to take care of an aging family member consider these things:
· Where will your elderly relative want to live? Most people are more comfortable staying in their own home. Even if they have only lived there for a short time it is the place they call home and they do not want to move. If they have lived in their home for many years it may be almost impossible to ask them to move. You do not want to ask your elderly relative to do something that may damage them psychologically. If they are already having physical health problems you should avoid compounding the problems.
· Will they be able to care for their personal hygiene needs, such as bathing and using the toilet? One of the most basic forms of independence we have is that of being able to care for our personal needs of bathing and toileting. To have to rely on a stranger’s help is difficult beyond belief.
Finding someone to act as a caregiver to our elderly relative may not be an easy thing to do. Older people become frustrated and angry when their independence and privacy are threatened. At times they may be hostile, cruel, or abusive to those who attempt to care for them. Conversely, caregivers to the elderly may react the same way back to the elderly.
Attempt to have a family member care for the older person. Someone who is known to them may be better equipped to handle the situation. Ask neighbors and agencies if they can recommend someone who has experience in elder care. Check all references to make sure the caregiver will act appropriately with your family member.
As the baby boomers continue to age and our population as a whole gets older, elder care will become an even bigger issue than it is today. There are no simple answers or solutions to questions and problems that may arise when trying to find a caregiver for an elderly parent or other relative.
