4 Tips to Prepare You For Home Care

As family members caring for aging parents and relatives, we know & understand that preparation is key. The best way to stay ahead of an emergency is to have a plan in place in case that emergency ever happens.

We created a list of ways that you can prepare the home of the aging parents or relatives in your care, in the event an emergency arrives. Hopefully this list will allow you to feel a little less stressed in the event of any crisis that may arise.

1.    Begin the process of organizing your parents home – We all know how its easy to accumulate a garage or attic full of stuff over a couple of years, so its not hard to image the amount of “stuff” that may be in our parents homes. You can start removing the clutter from there home by discarding expired food, newspapers, clothes and linen they don’t use, items in the kitchen and garage, etc. You can start on the top floor and work your way down to the basement. Tidying up like this can even help make the home safer for your loved ones.

2.    Have “that important talk” with your parents – It’s important to have a talk with your elder parents or loved ones in your care to discuss their wishes in relation to how they would like their heirlooms and personal property to be distributed. Make a list of their wishes and take this time to get an understanding of their financial situation and where they keep all of their important personal & legal documents.

3.    Keep the family involved – It’s important to keep the family involved in this process so everyone can be aware of the wishes of their elder loved ones and understand the role they play in the process, in the event that anything happens. This can also help by strengthening family bonds.

4.    Build a network – It’s very important to have a list of all of the local resources, that your aging loved one uses or may come to use, with contact names, numbers and addresses. This list can include doctors, geriatric care managers, the pharmacy, lawyer, home health aide, accountant, etc. Keep that list handy and make sure you have the passwords to any online accounts, deposit boxes and safes that your aging parents or relatives may have.

These are just a few tips that can help you prepare for anything that may arrive. Find the best way to communicate with the aging parents or relatives in your care to let them know that you aren’t intruding into their personal live. As uncomfortable as it may seem, starting this process is beneficial for everyone involved.

Related posts:

1. Home Care for My Aging Parents
2. The Sandwich Generation & Coping with the Stresses Of Elder Care
3. Elder Care Tips for Preparing for a Doctor Visit