Family life is totally and completely crazy – ask any mom, and she will tell you the same – which is why it can be hard to prioritise different parts of your life. As a mom, your life is all about your kids – they are your everything, your whole world – but you aren’t only a mom, you are also a daughter.
When we get to that age where we start a family of our own, often our parents begin to get to that age where they need more help. The issue is that family life is hectic enough as it is, without having to worry about your parents – or other aging relatives – as well.
However, the chances are that if you are close to your parents, then you feel a responsibility to look after them as they get older. After all, when you were small, they took care of you, so now it is time for you to pay back the favor. The only problem is that you have limited time (and funds) as it is, and are worried about how you will cope with it all.
To make the process of taking care of your young family and your old relatives easier, below are some tips to take note of and implement.
Look at your options
The first thing that you need to do when it comes to aging relatives is look at your options and their needs. Are they at the stage where they can’t quite keep up with all of their household chores, such as the vacuuming and cleaning? Has it got to the point where they find getting themselves in and out of the shower and dressed for the day, a problem? Or, are they becoming a danger to themselves and others? It’s important to determine what level your relatives have got to, in terms of the care that they require. It could be that having a cleaner go in twice a week or having a carer go in once a day to help them shower and get dressed is all it will take to make life easier for them. Or you may need to consider having a live-in carer, moving them into residential care, or having them live with you.
Consider the financial implications
A big part of caring for aging relatives is the financial side of things. It’s important to take the time to think carefully about this, and how you will cope with this aspect of caring for your aging relatives. If your relatives own their own home but can no longer live there safely, it could be worth looking at selling the property through a specialist company like Wren Realty Inc. Whatever happens, the important thing is that you are left financially stable, and your relatives get the care and support that they need. Whether that means moving them into a care home or having them move into your home, it doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you ensure that they
are getting the care that they need.
Schedule your time
When it comes to managing your time and splitting it between your partner and children and your aging relatives, it is important to schedule your time. If they live with you, then this won’t be so much of a problem, but if they don’t, you will need to consider how you are going to schedule your time, to ensure that you don’t end up neglecting your family while caring for your aging relatives. Perhaps you could take care of your relatives while your children are at school and your partner is at work, as that way you won’t be missing out on any family time?
It isn’t easy having to take care of your aging parents and your young family, but hopefully, the tips above will help to make things that little bit easier for you.