· Can reach office staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

· Background checks including criminal records are performed on care providers

· Care providers are covered by worker’s compensation insurance

· Care providers are bonded

· The same competitive rate is charged for days, nights and weekends

· The home care agency is inspected and licensed annually

· The family may interview the care provider at no extra cost

· The client may terminate services without giving notice

· The agency has a strong network of care providers

There are companies that provide caregivers that will come to your parent’s home. Services vary but generally they provide light housekeeping, prepare meals, write letters, provide socialization (visit with your family member), transport to appointments, help bathing and dressing and medication reminders. These companies may, or may not, provide nursing services

Pros…
Your parent can continue to live in their home
May be less expensive than assisted living
Covered by long-term care insurance

Cons…
Depending on the cost your parent may still be home alone much of the time. Having a device like Lifeline is one solution. You might remember the ads on television, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” Your parent wears a device around his/her neck and if something happens and they need help they push this button. When your mom or dad activates the device, several things may happen: some devices allow your parent to talk to a person who assesses what’s needed and/or talks to your parent until help arrives; other types of devices alert a dispatcher at the company who works from a list of contacts provided by the family, if they are unable to reach anyone or, after a certain period of time, 911 is called. The main challenge with these types of devices is getting your parent to wear it ALL the time.

Your mom or dad may be limited in where they can go, or when they can schedule appointments if they have to be within the hours the caregiver is present. This is one of the biggest obstacles older adults face if they stay in their home. It’s one of the main reasons they continue to drive when they shouldn’t. Imagine what it would be like to always have to rely on someone else to take you where you want to go.

Parents can be uncomfortable having caregivers do things for them so they may use the time for visiting or encourage them to leave before they’ve completed their chores. Asking the staff of the home care company how they address these issues before you hire them is one way to deal with this problem. Continuing to ask the company for caregiver feedback is another. Asking your parent what things the caregiver is doing for them may also give you a feel for what’s being done, or not being done.

Unless adult children and their mother or father have established a relationship as adults that allows for each other’s differences, throwing parents and children together after years of being apart can create a lot of stress for both parties. Even if the parent/child relationship is strong and both sides are respectful of each other’s time, space and lifestyle, adding a parent to your household can be hard on significant others and grandchildren. This decision takes careful consideration for everyone involved, you, your parent, your kids, your significant other, your siblings, because it impacts all of them in some way.

Pros…
An opportunity to give back to your mother or father for all they’ve done for you

Cons…
If the above benefit sounds rosy it’s because it usually is. Rarely does the dream match reality.
High stress simply because your parent’s needs will increase the older they get.