Becoming a carer for our elderly parents can negatively affect the professional sphere. However, there are other alternatives so that you don't have to compromise your work situation or the well-being of your loved ones. This post will cover more about taking care of elderly parents at home.

Doubts About Becoming a Caregiver for Older Parents

As time goes by, the needs of older people change. The clearest and closest example is our own parents. Even in circumstances where they are in good health and enjoy their independence, it is normal that we need to care for them more and more. 

The ageing of parents and the physical and psychological changes associated with it generates many doubts in children who are considering taking on the main role as caregivers:

• Will I be able to provide the assistance they need?
• Will my family and social life change as I become a carer for my parents?
• Will my relationship with my parents suffer due to this change?
• Will my parents prefer to be cared for in their own home or should they move to my home?
• Will it affect my financial status in any way?
• Will I have to give up my job to cope with this new situation?
• What benefits can I claim if I have to give up work to care for someone UK?
  
  If you ask an individual with a professional life, they would probably reply,' I don t want to care for my elderly parents.' All these doubts reflect not only the anguish that this new scenario generates for most people but also the importance of a decision that has many other implications and that, therefore, should not be taken lightly regarding the care of our elderly parents.
  
  

Giving up your life to care for elderly parent UK is not the only alternative. What other solutions exist if you want to keep your job? If for financial reasons, time constraints or lack of specific skills to carry out the work as a carer you would prefer that other people take over this task while you continue with your job, the alternatives available are:

Institutionalisation in an older people's home, with the disadvantage that your relatives lose the social and family ties they have maintained up to now and have to leave their home to face a completely new situation. This is a radical change that most older people are unprepared to take on, especially during the pandemic.

Coordinate day centre attendance schedules so that, at least during working hours, your family member is in a safe and stimulating environment and can return home at the end of the day. Although this may be a viable solution, especially for people who enjoy a certain degree of autonomy, the problem is that with the current health situation, many of these centres are closed, either temporarily or permanently.

Professional home carers: caring for parents at home is undoubtedly the most flexible and efficient alternative for both autonomous people and those with a high degree of dependency. At Cuidum, we offer a 100% personalised home care service with contract modalities that adapt to the schedules and needs of each family.

Before deciding on any of the alternatives we have mentioned, you should meet with the rest of the family members involved to reach a consensual solution in which the parents' preferences are taken into account.

Some preliminary considerations that may help you to make this important decision are:

• The general state of health of your elderly parents.
• Their level of independence and autonomy.
• The preferences of the elderly (ageing at home, moving to the children's home, living in residence with other people of their age...).
• The involvement of the rest of the family (will you be alone in the care of your parents or will you have the support of other people)?
• The economic conditions and the expense that can be assumed.
• The opinion of family members.

The possibility of assuming this responsibility on a temporary, partial or permanent basis.
If it is necessary to make a prior assessment of all these circumstances, it is because long-term care for the elderly is a great responsibility. However, something as natural as taking care of elderly parents in your home does not have to mean a negative change in the work, family or personal environment.

Nowadays, there are many alternatives for dealing with this situation from a favorable perspective for all parties involved. Whether you want to take care of your parents personally or opt for a home care service, there are always ways for you to find a balance between your personal life and your caring responsibilities for an elderly person.