3 Tips for Moving in With Your Senior Loved One

If your senior loved one needs some extra help during the day, but the two of you aren’t ready for them to make the jump to a senior living community or to hire an aide, you may be considering moving in with your loved one or having them move in with you. However, this is a big step, and it’s important that you’re fully prepared for this decision and the work and stress it will entail. Ebenezer Senior Living has compiled a list of things you should consider when sharing a home with your senior loved one.

Consider a Trial Run

Before you start making any concrete plans to share a home with your loved one, you should spend a few days and nights at their house or have them stay at your house. You’ll be able to get a better picture of your loved one’s actual needs than you would by simply asking them, especially if they struggle with memory issues. You may learn, for example, that they may use the bathroom at night more often than they realize, or that they aren’t able to move around as easily as they claim.

Be Aware of Your Limits

While you may want to go all in to help your loved one, realistically, you won’t be able to be there for them 24/7. If they have medical needs that you aren’t entirely familiar with, you may need to look into hiring a part-time in-home caretaker. If you have a demanding everyday life and aren’t comfortable leaving your loved one alone during the day, look into adult day centers near you. This can both give you a break and allow your loved one an opportunity to socialize.

Consider the Future

Even if your loved one is fairly self-sufficient and/or healthy at the moment, unexpected injuries or illnesses can pop up at any time. Make sure you are aware of nearby health facilities for your loved one in case of a health emergency or if their needs become more time-consuming. Additionally, it’s a good idea to look into nearby respite care options for your loved one in the event that you need to leave your home for an extended period of time.

We hope that we were able to give you some pointers to consider when moving in with your senior loved one. For more information on transitions and advice for caretakers, visit our other Ebenezer blog posts.