Caring for Aging Loved Ones: Where Do You Start?

As a hospital social worker, and the Life and Love coach at Morrison Monuments, my role is to provide guidance for families with questions relating to caregiving for an aging loved one.  Properly and accurately guiding families requires them to make the following evaluations:  

1)   Take Assessment of the Needs- It is important to take an honest and accurate look at the physical, mental and social needs of your loved one. Looking at their independence level regarding activities of daily living (ADLs) can help a family judge the level of need an individual may have. Cooking, cleaning and driving are often the first areas that may reveal an individual’s need for outside help. Dressing, bathing, toileting and walking are aspects of daily living that often require assistance. Do they have or need any DME (durable medical equipment), such as a walker, cane, wheelchair, shower chair and/or grab bars in the bathroom? Sometimes the installation of quality medical equipment and an emergency call alert button can be enough to help a senior remain independent for a while longer. Evaluating an individual’s ability to make safe decisions is also a key component in taking assessment of possible needs.

2)   Take Assessment of your Resources and Abilities- It is important to take a thorough appraisal of what you are reasonably able to offer your loved one. If you are working full-time and providing for a family, your ability to provide 24 hour care is limited. If you have your own medical issues or physical limitations, then you may need to consider obtaining some outside assistance, as well.  I also like to encourage families to look to friends, family members and neighbors who may be able to offer support.

3)   Take Assessment of your Finances- It is imperative to know the financial situation of the loved one requiring assistance. Meeting with an attorney who specializes in elder law can help families navigate through the financial aspects of care giving. Many of these firms offer free consultations to allow families to determine if professional legal counsel will be of benefit to them.

Once you have established the needs of the individual, assessed your own abilities and obtained an accurate financial picture, then you can move on to reaching out to appropriate agencies and facilities who can offer support and aide to meet those needs. While it may take some searching, there are valuable resources available that can help families provide adequate, loving care to their aging loved ones.

“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.”       – Tia Walker

 For a list of resources and agencies that can help provide care for your loved one, please feel free to reach out to our Life and Love Program by email at beth@morrisonmonuments.com or by calling 937.310.1035.