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What do you do when your parents can’t take care of themselves anymore? Do you go to your relatives for help, place them in a nursing home or just take care of them yourself? Finding the right answers and making the best decisions for their welfare isn’t always an easy task.
Before deciding what course of action to choose, an examination of their current health condition would be wise. If they are capable enough to fend for themselves, but need some assistance, like being driven to the doctor for checkups, then your availability and maybe a little help and cooperation from relatives, or maybe placement in a retirement community will do. However, if they are in a wheelchair or bedridden, then a private nurse or nursing home would be more of what is needed. Probably, the ideal situation (if you're not working, and are willing to spend the time and effort involved in taking care of them on a twenty-four hour basis) would be for you to do the job yourself. This can be accompanied by a relative’s help, hiring a part-time nurse, or seeking help from organizations like the Catholic Charities who hire aids to come to your home at little or no cost.
Another thing to take into consideration is their financial circumstance. Some of these communities and services like retirement centers, nursing homes or hiring a private nurse can be quite expensive, and the quality of care is usually based up what your parents can afford. It’s true that a few nursing centers, which accept patients regardless of their income or those with limited fixed income, are guilty of neglect or incompetence. But what really is even more distressing is the fact your parents will, more than likely, not receive the personal attention only you or your family can give—even in the best of nursing homes.
If you feel you have no choice because you work and have kids, too many demanding obligations or even personal problems, and you do place them in a nursing home, then the best thing to do would be to make a commitment to try and be there to visit them as often as possible. Even that may not be possible if the establishment is too distant from where you’re located.
One thing is for sure, your not alone. It has been estimated that close to eighty million Americans will be approaching retirement age by the year 2020.
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