As your parent ages, more and more tasks might fall on your already-full to-do list. Whether you are caring for your aging parent from your home down the road or coordinating care from many miles away, you can access resources and services so that you aren’t doing everything on your own.
Getting the right help can not only provide the support that keeps your loved one healthy and engaged, but it can also help prevent you from suffering from caregiver burnout, a phenomenon in which the emotional and physical strain of serving in a caregiving role becomes too much to handle. Caregiver burnout can come with symptoms ranging from depression and anxiety to cognitive decline and sleep disruptions. Here, we explore various resources that can help you as you care for your aging parent so you and your loved one can stay healthy and happy.
Physical support
Many caregiving tasks are physical in nature: cooking and portioning meals, helping out with personal care tasks like showering, tidying up the home, and driving to medical appointments. If you are not around to provide this support, or if you need some additional assistance with getting it done, consider looking for these types of service providers.
Respite care
Typically offered through home care agencies, adult day cares, or assisted living communities, respite care provides outside caregiver support to an older adult for a short amount of time so their family caregiver can have some time away from their caregiving role. Respite care can include having a caregiver come to the home to help with showering a few times per week, or it can include eight hours per day of oversight and assistance for multiple days in a row.
Respite care can be covered by private insurance, by out-of-pocket pay, or through a state-funded waiver. It is a wonderful service that can offer a great way for your loved one to receive support from a nonfamily caregiver and for you to have peace of mind by knowing they will be cared for while you enjoy some rest.
Adult day care
Adult day care centers are designed to provide assistance and socialization for older adults during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, while their family caregivers work or take care of other responsibilities. Seniors enjoy activities and meals at the center and can receive assistance with medications and personal care as needed.
These centers are run by private agencies as well as by community-based senior centers. Look for one that is convenient for you to drop off and pick up your loved one on your way home from work. Some adult day care centers offer transportation for older adults within a certain radius.
Home care
Home care agencies provide caregiver support in the home, with caregivers offering support with personal care (showering, bathing, dressing, etc.), light housekeeping, meal preparation, and companionship. Depending on the agency, caregivers can stop by for a few hours at a time or stay for extended eight-, 12-, or even 24-hour shifts. Since the amount of time a provider comes into the home can vary, you can personalize this service to get the help and time off you need.
Financial assistance
Family caregivers often take on some type of financial burden when caring for an aging parent. Financial consequences related to leaving work to care for a family member can result in a net loss of more than $650,000 over a lifetime when you factor in forgone wages and other benefits. In addition, family caregivers can end up spending their own money to pay for groceries, prescriptions, and health care costs for their loved ones. Use services near your loved one that can offset costs for them and for you. Here are some options you may be able to access.
LIHEAP
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance to financially disadvantaged families and seniors for energy costs. The program is federally funded. You can find out if your loved one is eligible and sign up for the service through your state’s LIHEAP website. Work with your loved one’s senior center or their town’s senior services department to learn more.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is a service that provides hot meals to seniors in the community up to five days per week, which means your loved one can count on at least one hot meal each day for the majority of the week. This service gives you the opportunity to skip preparing one more meal on those days. Find out more at the organization’s website.
Durable medical equipment borrowing
Senior services in your loved one’s town might provide durable medical equipment borrowing services. You might be able to get a free walker or wheelchair for your loved one as they recover from surgery or a hospital stay for a few weeks or months for free. You simply return it on the designated due date so it can be cleaned and borrowed by someone else. Check with local nonprofit organizations or your local senior services department for options in your area.
Transportation assistance
It can be difficult to take the time to drive your aging loved one to and from their appointments and errands, but paying for private transportation can take a toll on your wallet. Fortunately, most cities provide some type of reduced-rate senior transportation that you can book ahead of time. A car or bus will pick up your loved one at a designated time and get them to their destination as well as return them home. This service typically does not include accompanying the senior to their appointment, but it is still an excellent option, especially at a free or reduced rate. Check with your city’s senior services department to learn the details of their specific program.
Local funding
Your loved one’s local Area Agency on Aging is also an excellent starting point. These agencies can guide you toward grants and services available in your local area that will help your loved one now and as their needs change.
Emotional support
All types of emotional support can benefit you and your loved one greatly. Look for resources that keep your loved one engaged and socializing in their local community and for support groups that can connect you with others who understand your situation.
Caregiver support groups
Check out your local hospital and senior living facility for professionally facilitated caregiver support groups. These groups not only give you the chance to learn from other caregivers, but they often include an educational component that features a local expert in the senior space. If you’re not able to attend support group meetings in person, there are many online and virtual resources available, such as the Family Caregiver Alliance’s Caregiver Online Support Group or the AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group on Facebook.
Senior center programs
Your aging parent can connect with new friends at their local senior center. These community hubs provide scheduled activities, like exercise, happy hours, and educational lectures, while serving as a friendly space to simply enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation. Contact your loved one’s local senior center to find out more about what they offer, any costs involved, and whether they offer a transportation service.
Counseling and therapy
Both you and your loved one might benefit from scheduled appointments with a therapist or counselor. For yourself, look for a therapist with experience working with family caregivers. For your loved one, look for a counselor who has experience working with seniors or adults living with a specific medical condition, if that applies to your situation.
There are resources to help you care for your aging parent
Remember, you aren’t alone in family caregiving, even though it can feel isolating at times. Use the resources and services available to you so you can reduce the amount of caregiving tasks and the toll they may take on you and your loved one.
