Caring for an aging parent at home is a meaningful and rewarding journey, but it can be challenging for many adult children. According to Statistics Canada, in 2018, approximately one in four Canadians aged 15 and older, which equates to about 7.8 million people, provided care to a family member or friend with:
- Long-term health condition
- Disabilities
- Age-related difficulties
Whether you're just beginning to step into the role of caring for elderly parents or have been providing care for them for some time, having the right tips and strategies can make a world of difference for both you and your parents' physical and mental health.
At Senior Home Care By Angels, we understand that dealing with aging parents can be a learning curve, and there are common challenges that family caregivers often face. To make your time as a caregiver successful and prevent you from struggling with common caregiver challenges, we want to share helpful advice for caring for aging parents, while also recognizing that sometimes, even the most devoted familial caregivers need extra support to prevent burnout.
Caring for aging parents often means balancing their needs with your own, which can sometimes feel overwhelming. It's important to recognize the signs of stress early and find ways to manage your time and energy effectively. Small changes like setting realistic goals, seeking help from other family members, or joining support groups can make a significant difference in maintaining your own well-being while providing care.
Another key aspect is communication. Keeping an open dialogue with your parents about their preferences and concerns can help create a care plan that respects their dignity and independence. At the same time, staying connected with healthcare professionals can ensure that you have the guidance and resources you need to handle any medical or emotional challenges that arise.
On top of our tips for caring for parents, we also offer compassionate home care services for elderly parents, whether it's due to you determining that providing full-time care isn't the right fit or you simply need respite care to avoid burnout. You're not alone on this journey; our team is always here to support you every step of the way.
Dealing With Older Parents & Common Caregiver Challenges
Caring for elderly parents is a profound act of love, but it can also cause you to face emotional, physical, and logistical challenges. As your parents age, you may find that they are no longer able to live by themselves, and the responsibility of making sure their well-being is a priority often falls on family members, specifically adult children.
It's common to feel overwhelmed as you juggle the many demands of caregiving alongside your own personal and professional life. Tasks such as maintaining medications, coordinating medical appointments, and handling household chores can quickly add up. It's important to recognize that needing help or feeling uncertain at times doesn't mean you're failing; it simply means you're human.
You're not alone.
Reaching out for support is a vital step toward maintaining your own health and providing the best care possible. Connecting with other caregivers through support groups or professional resources can provide valuable advice and emotional relief. Remember, self-care is not selfish - it's essential for sustaining your ability to care for your parents over the long term.
Millions of family caregivers face the same challenges every day. Fortunately, understanding the common challenges and learning how to deal with aging parents can make your caregiver journey a little smoother. And when you need extra support, Senior Home Care By Angels is here to step in with professional and compassionate in-home care and respite care services.
The Emotional Effects of Caring for an Elderly Parent
One of the most significant challenges when caring for aging parents is managing the emotional toll it can take on both you and your parents. Watching your once-independent parent struggle with daily tasks, such as dressing or cleaning their home, or decline physically or cognitively, can trigger a range of emotions.
It's common to feel a deep sense of role reversal, where the parent who once cared for you now depends on you. This shift can bring feelings of sadness and helplessness, but it can also strengthen your bond unexpectedly. Recognizing and accepting these complex emotions is an important part of the caregiving process.
Adult children caregivers often experience:
- Sadness
- Guilt
- Frustration
- Resentment
These feelings are normal and valid to feel, but can lead to caregiver burnout if not properly addressed.
To combat this common caregiver challenge, you can acknowledge your emotions instead of bottling them up. Talk to a trusted friend, therapist, or support group so that you can address your feelings and work through them.
Setting realistic expectations, both for yourself and for your parent, can also help family caregivers manage the emotional stress they might experience when providing care. Remember, it's important to ask for help, and seeking outside help through respite care is a responsible and loving decision, not a failure on your part.
Distance Makes It Harder: Caring for Aging Parents from Afar
If you live in a different city, province, or even country, providing or managing care for elderly parents quickly becomes a complicated challenge. You may worry about their safety, taking medications, having proper nutrition, or being isolated from social interactions, but be unable to check on them regularly.
Technology can bridge some of the gap if you live far away from your elderly parent, so you can consider installing video call systems or remote monitoring devices so you can check up on them frequently. However, hiring in-home caregivers, like Senior Home Care By Angels, to provide daily care can provide peace of mind, knowing that your parent is receiving professional in-home care and assistance even when you can't be there personally.
When Parents Are in Denial About Aging
One of the toughest parts of dealing with older parents is when they are resistant or outright deny their need for help while aging in place. They may fear asking for assistance with daily living activities will result in losing their independence or cause them to feel embarrassed about their limitations. This can often make conversations about providing home care frustrating and emotionally charged.
Approach discussions about providing home care with empathy, patience, and respect. Rather than pointing out what they can no longer do themselves, focus on how getting a little extra help will support their independence and give them the chance to age in place, not take it away. It's important to note that you don't have to do it all yourself, and involving a trusted third party, like one of our caregivers at Senior Home Care By Angels, can make the transition to receiving care at home smoother and less confrontational.
Balancing Your Life with Caregiving Duties
Caring for elderly parents often comes at a cost to your own personal and professional life. You may find yourself juggling a full-time job, raising your own family, and trying to meet your parents' home care needs all at the same time. Without proper balance between work, personal life, and caring for elderly parents, it's easy to become overwhelmed and physically and emotionally exhausted.
Make sure to set boundaries in each aspect of your life early on. Schedule "off-duty" time for yourself and stick to it, meaning don't work or provide care in that time period. Don't be afraid to ask for help from siblings, extended family members, or professional services, such as ours at Senior Home Care By Angels. Seeking respite care services, like the ones offered by Senior Home Care By Angels, provides family caregivers with the chance to rest, recharge, or focus on other obligations without feeling guilty or sacrificing their parents' quality of care.
Financial Strain of Caring for Elderly Parents
In some cases, the financial burden of caregiving becomes overwhelming for family caregivers. Costs can quickly pile up, and put stress on your family's budget for various aspects of home care, including:
- Medications
- Home modifications
- Medical equipment
- Personal care assistance
Explore all available in-home care benefits and assistance programs in your area. Many provinces offer caregiver tax credits or financial aid to those who provide home care for their elderly parents or family members. It's also important to talk openly with the parent you are providing care for about their financial resources and how they can contribute to their home care needs. Hiring affordable, flexible home care services like those offered by our team at Senior Home Care By Angels can help you manage the costs of providing care for a parent while also ensuring that your parent gets the assistance they need.
When It's Time to Ask for Help
At Senior Home Care By Angels, we offer flexible senior home care services customized to your family's needs. Whether you need occasional respite care services for your parent or full-time caregiving support, we're here to help. The caregivers we connect our clients with are compassionate, experienced, and dedicated to preserving your loved one's dignity and independence.
Recognizing when to ask for help is a crucial step in providing the best care possible. It's important to understand that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Bringing in professional caregivers can ease your workload, reduce stress, and ensure that your loved one receives attentive care tailored to their unique needs.
You don't have to face the challenges of dealing with older parents and providing care for them alone. Let our team help you navigate this journey, and give both you and your parent the in-home support you deserve.