Caring for Elderly Parents – 7 Resources for Help

Caring for an aging parent can be hard. These resources can help, financially and emotionally.

No parent wants to be a burden to their children—emotionally, physically or financially. As time passes, each generation faces the same caregiving issues. By using new technology and services available today, the caregiver and the person/people receiving the care can efficiently manage senior care costs.

The daily cost of caregiving

According to Forbes.com, taking care of aging parents can take a toll on the caregiver’s quality of life and future:

Grandparents spending time with their young grandchildren outdoors

“Many caregivers are so stressed that they do not realize how these out-of-pocket costs of caregiving add up,” says Cindy Hounsell, President of the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER). Common out-of-pocket senior care costs include:

  • Transportation: Doctor visits, errands and other activities to remain socially connected.
  • Food and household goods: Meal preparation, grocery shopping, as well as a wide range of household goods, clothing and personal items.
  • Medical: Pharmaceuticals, doctors’ consultations, medical procedures and rehabilitation.
  • Lost time: Most doctor appointments and trips to the bank must take place during working hours, which could mean taking time off from work. While some jobs are flexible, many aren’t.

Balancing senior care costs

According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, the average time spent caring for elderly parents is more than 77 hours a month. This is like having a second job, which is why balancing your own financial and emotional needs can be challenging.

If you are caring for an elderly parent, consider these seven resources to help manage senior care costs:

1. Available benefits

Depending on where you live, government programs like Medicaid can help in taking care of aging parents. Some states have waiver programs to help manage everyday senior care costs. “Make sure the older person you’re assisting is getting every benefit to which they are entitled,” says Catherine Roper of Caring.com. She recommends the National Council on Aging’s BenefitsCheckUp®, a free service to help determine which programs are available to both you and your loved ones.

Woman and her elderly mother enjoying an afternoon at the park

2. Caregiving services

When taking care of aging parents, in-home care can be expensive and involve a mountain of forms. Today, there are many independent, qualified caregivers available. For example, you may be able to find websites where retired nurses offer their paid services. Also, most seniors living alone at home have empty bedrooms and, “often a young person is looking for ways to save on housing costs,” Roper says. “Swapping some caregiving tasks for low-cost (or even free) housing can be a great option, in addition to being an enjoyable experience for both the older and younger person.”

The elderly may also have vehicles at their home that are rarely utilized, Roper says. “They’d be happy to offer it to a young person in exchange for driving them where they need to go. This can be a great way for a young person to save on car payments,” she says.

3. Financial aid

You may be able to locate websites that can provide a list of programs and benefits for which your elderly parent may be eligible. Veterans Affairs, nonprofit and charitable organizations, your local church (some provide day care options for seniors) and long-term care insurance are just a few other financial options for help in caring for elderly parents. “Depending on the state you live in, and your loved one’s financial situation, it may be possible to get an hourly wage for the caregiving tasks a young person would be doing anyway,” Roper says.

4. Home monitoring

If full-time assistance isn’t required, installing a home monitoring system can aid in making sure your loved one is still supervised in case of an accident. There are also self-monitoring devices that can be worn and will automatically detect if an elderly parent takes a fall.

5. Meal services

Local outreach programs provide hot meals to homebound individuals and can help keep senior care costs down. Such services can also help in caring for elderly parents with regulated, controlled diets.

6. Support groups

Always remember you are not alone. So many caregivers run into similar emotional and financial struggles when taking care of aging parents. Reach out locally and through online forums. Someone may have solutions you haven’t considered.

7. Family

Everyone can help out when caring for elderly parents. Split up care duties with other family members when possible. Even long-distance family can help with managing bills, visits (which means a break for the primary caregiver) and companionship via the phone or video calling. Just knowing people care can ease anxiety or brighten a day.

Recognizing the heavy burdens of caring for elderly parents is the first step to maintaining balance during a tough time. A bit of research and planning ahead could help guide new caregivers toward making better decisions. But most importantly, cherish the quality time with your loved ones—these moments make it possible to embrace the good days and look forward to the future.

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