When Do You Hire An Aide?
As people age, they become more dependent on their family. Many times, this is an adult son or daughter, who may live faraway or have families of their own, and may already have to divide their time between work and home. It can be very difficult to take care of an aging parent on top of other responsibilities.
When the relationship between an elderly parent and an adult child involves care-giving, the relationship can change drastically. Depending on the situation or nature of an illness or injury, this change can occur slowly over time, but many times, it is an abrupt change to your usual way of life. One thing that adult children of aging parents notice pretty early on in this process is that the bonding time between parent and child decreases. With your only concern being the well-being of your parent(s), you may have to put all your effort into regularly addressing their various needs.
When your focus shifts to taking care of them, time spent together becomes more about bathing, dressing and feeding them, and less about talking to them and enjoying their company. Although you probably do not mind taking care of them, somewhere in your heart you miss spending quality time with them. With home care, you can have the best of both worlds. You can hire an aide from a reputable agency that genuinely cares for the welfare of your parents.
Reasons to Hire an Aide
Some elderly parents are unable to do the things they could before or are stricken with an irreversible condition. Look at these reasons and if they apply to your parents, hire an aide for them:
- Children living faraway and unable to visit as frequently
- Children lack the skills and training of a proper caregiver
- Parents do not prefer to be alone and do not wish to go to an elderly home
- Parents have developed a condition such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, or some other grave condition that needs constant care and attention
- Parents live alone and need companionship at home
- Parents on prescribed medications
- Parents beginning to have balance issues and may have fallen
Did any of the above situations describe your parents’ current situation? If so, it is recommended that you hire an aide for them.
Don’t Feel Guilty — It’s Worth It
When you were young, your parents tended to your every need. They nursed you back to health when you were sick, they cheered you up when you were down, and most importantly, they were always there when you needed them. Now, they need you.
Even though you may not be an expert caregiver, you have the option to hire one for your parents. In many instances, the BEST way to take care of your aging parents is to hire a professional. Overtime, their health may have deteriorated significantly, but with your busy lifestyle, you may not be able to provide them with the care they require and deserve. At first, you may feel guilty, but the end results of hiring an aid are rewarding.
By hiring an aide, you will spend less time bathing, dressing, and feeding them and more time reminiscing about the olden days. Also, professional caregivers are trained in essential skills your parents may require, such as fall prevention, medication management, and how to properly pick them up out of bed, or if they do fall. This helps to eliminate further injuries.
Contact Us
At Allegiance Home Health and Rehab, “We pledge our allegiance to you.” We provide your loved ones with services custom designed to fit their individual needs. Our trained caregivers fully comprehend the condition and personality of the patient, providing them options to choose from various activities that include going on short walks, reading to them, and accompanying them to the store.
If you are interested in hiring an aide for your mother or father, you can call us right away for a consultation. Don’t miss our next episode of Allegiance Alert hosted by us, Rosie and Joe Martin.
