Aging Parents: What to Do and When

Source: The Acorn

Unfortunately there are no guidebooks and training available to the adult children of aging parents to help them know what's best for their parents when their parents can no longer live alone.

There are alternatives to nursing homes for those who don't require skilled care.

For some seniors who suffer from short-term memory loss, some of the smaller homes will meet their needs; there are large retirement homes for the active senior, and other facilities for those who need some assisted living. With the help of ELDERLINK, adult children of aging parents will discover the many options available and most importantly, be able to find beautiful facilities with kind, nurturing and caring staff members.

ELDERLINK is a free senior referral service licensed by the state Department of Health Services that can assist and guide families in making one of the most important decisions a family may face.

Among the most often asked questions are:

• How will I know when my parent no longer can live alone?
• Who will take care of my parent?
• Who is going to pay for their care?
• How long can they stay at the facility?
• Are there other people like my parents in the facility?
• Who can give me the right information?
• There are no right or wrong answers. Each situation and each senior will have different needs.

Some of the concerns expressed are:

• Poor nutrition; dehydration
• lack of personal hygiene
• falling
• loneliness
• depression
• confusion
• forgetfulness
• wandering
• not taking medications
• making irrational decisions
• not paying bills
• repeated questions

The professionals at ELDERLINK can provide the tools a family needs to find appropriate information. ELDERLINK staff personally inspects and evaluates all the facilities prior to referring them.

Their goal is the same as the family's: to place loved ones in a facility that will meet their needs and where they will be treated with dignity and respect.

For more information please call ELDERLINK at .