Adult children can sometimes wonder what the next best steps will be when their aging parent begins to experience some challenges with living at home on their own. Whether you are concerned about Mom being lonely at home, about her safety, or about limited mobility or cognitive decline, you might start to wonder what comes next.
Some adult children entertain the idea of moving their aging parent in with them. Is this the best decision for you? Here are a few things to consider as you begin to weigh your options.
Do you have enough room?
Moving your parent in with you is much more difficult on everyone in the home when you simply don’t have enough room. Many adult children are in the middle of the Sandwich Generation with children still living at home. Moving in with an aging parent can seriously cramp everyone’s style if you don’t have the room available.
At a minimum, you want a dedicated bedroom for your loved one. Having a dedicated bathroom is also nice, especially if they need safety precautions like grab bars installed.
Do you have the funds to remodel?
If you don’t have a designated space for your loved one, do you have the funds and time to create that space? While not everyone can afford to renovate their home to include a full “mother-in-law suite” with a kitchenette, living room, bedroom, and bathroom, you might be able to find a way to convert space to a bedroom and bathroom for your loved one.
If you have the funds to remodel and make space for your aging loved one, be sure you are working with a reputable contractor. Be honest with them with any time constraints you are facing as well.
What type of oversight and assistance does your loved one need?
If you are thinking about moving your parent in with you, chances are they are needing some type of additional support that makes living at home difficult. Ensure you know what type of support your loved one needs to stay happy and healthy, as well as if you can provide it.
For example, if your loved one needs assistance throughout the day with personal care tasks or safety oversight due to cognitive decline and you work outside of the home 40 hours per week, you will not be there to provide that support. Your loved one might still struggle at your home just as they did at their home.
Do you have a financial plan in place?
Moving someone into your home means life is going to naturally get more expensive. Even if it is just a larger grocery bill, you will feel the strain in your pocketbook with the addition of our loved one. Be sure that both of you have spoken about financial plans moving forward and how your loved one might be able to financially contribute to the household.
Are you both ready for the change?
When your parent moves in, your relationship is bound to change. Most adults haven’t lived with their parents since they were young adults. It can be difficult to figure out how to live with one another again, and that’s okay! However, the stress of that change can sometimes cause relationship strain, which might negatively affect both of you.
Have you considered senior living?
If you don’t have the space, money, or time to successfully move your loved one into your home, that is okay. There are some wonderful options available to you both, including senior living. Today’s senior living communities offer a wide variety of amenities, services, and support, all at different price points to meet unique budgets.
Here at iNavigate, we are honored to come alongside our clients as we work together to find a senior living community that meets needs, preferences, and budget, all at no cost to the clients or their loved ones. Contact us today to schedule a free assessment.
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