As your parents get older, you’re likely to become more involved in their care. However, one of the biggest questions you’ll have to face is whether or not to have your senior parents move in with you. This greatly impacts your lifestyle, as well as theirs. You want to make sure you choose correctly. If you’re considering whether to have your senior parents live with you, answer these questions.
Do They Need Assistance?
The elderly population is growing. It’s predicted that the population of adults over 85 will double by 2036 and triple by 2049. With such a big population, elderly people have a wide range of needs. Some live a very independent lifestyle, taking care of themselves in every way. Others may need some assistance, but are overall capable. Still others may need a lot of medical and domestic care.
Consider your senior parent’s needs. If they are mostly independent and want to stay in their home, that might be best for them. Meanwhile, if they need a lot of medical attention, your home might not be the best place for them. Think about your parent’s needs and which environment would serve them best.
Is Your Home Equipped for a Senior?
An important factor to consider is how your home is equipped. It might not be accessible for a parent who has trouble walking. If you have multiple floors, you may need an elevator. Elevators in the U.S. travel 7.2 trillion feet or 1.36 billion miles each year. However, they aren’t common in homes. If you and your home aren’t able to properly care for your parents, you might not be the best choice.
If your parent has dementia and is at risk of escaping the home, you’ll need to take that into account as well. You may need to make home upgrades like adding a security system or a fence. Rehab Financial Group says that a fence can increase your home’s value significantly, with increases ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on the material. Metal and stone have the highest ROI at 70%, while other materials are around 50%. However, it may cost you a lot of money upfront to make a change like this, so it’s important to ask yourself if you can afford it.
Can You Cohabitate?
If you’re moving a senior parent into your home, you’re taking on the responsibility of caring for them. Are you able to do this? You need to consider your own physical and mental health as well. If you’re not able to take care of yourself, then you aren’t capable of caring for another person.
An important question to ask is how well you and your parents get along. If you’re constantly fighting with each other, your home is going to become a deeply unpleasant place to be. Your home needs to be a secure place for you and your family. While this includes any senior parent living with you, you need to honestly consider this possibility before inviting them to move in.
Have You Considered Residential Care?
If your parents can’t live on their own anymore, you should consider all of your options. This includes residential care. Your parents can still have an active lifestyle in these communities. However, they’ll also receive the care and security that they need. Talk to your senior parent, as well as their care team. Between all of you, you should weigh the pros and cons of all your options. This will help you make the best choice.
Having a senior parent move into your house is a major decision that you have to make. Before you extend the invitation, make sure that you think carefully about all of these questions. That way, you know that this is the best option for both of you.
