Getting older is not easy. Our bodies decline, friends and loved ones die, and sometimes we even lose our ability to think and participate in everyday life. With all of this loss it shouldn’t be a surprise when a parent doesn’t want to move out of their home, especially if it’s one that they have lived in for decades. If you’re dealing with a parent that is having difficulty staying in their home safely, what options are available to you?
First, you need to determine whether your parent is capable of staying in their home safely. If not, are there less disruptive measures you can take so that they will be safe in their home? Frankly, moving someone into an assisted-care facility or a nursing home should be your last option, if for no other reason than the high cost. The average annual cost for a nursing home – for just one person – is $73,000 and climbing; thus, if your parent can stay in their home safely for just the cost of adding some handrails, grab bars, and a stair chair, then why rush moving them out of their home?
Second, determine how much care your parent needs on a daily basis. If he or she just needs assistance with something basic such as shopping for groceries, then perhaps a home-healthcare aide would be a more feasible alternative. That being said, however, with starting salaries averaging around $21.00 an hour it’s easy to see how the cost savings of using a home-healthcare aide could quickly be lost if more extensive care is required.
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