Unfortunately, many people get to a stage in life when they are unable to live in their own homes. If your parent is reaching this stage now, you may be considering moving them in with you. This is a common solution, as it means that an elderly parent won’t be alone in a house by themselves, and won’t need to go into an aged care facility.
However, it can also be a big ask on everyone involved. Often, parents are struggling with giving up their independence, and would prefer to stay in their own home. Children of elderly parents often have their own lives, with work and their own children making life busy enough. If you’re planning to move your elderly or disabled parent into your home, here are some tips:
Consider a stairlift
If your parent is unable to get up and down stairs, you may have assumed that you’ll probably need to move house. However, one great option is to fit a stairlift instead of moving house. This makes it much easier and safer for them to get up and down the stairs by themselves, giving them the freedom and independence to navigate the house when you’re not home.
Lighten the load
If you can’t remember the last time you had a good clean out, it’s a good idea to do this before your parent moves in. If they have a wheelchair, walker, or cane, it may be difficult for them to get around if you have a lot of furniture or knick-knacks in the way. Spend a weekend with your family and get rid of any furniture, rugs, clothes, toys, and kitchenware you’re not using. This will make it much easier when your parent moves in as you’ll have more storage space and they’ll be able to get around too. If you have a lot of junk, consider getting a residential dumpster to easily get rid of it.
Consider hiring out
For people who work full-time (many of whom have kids), they may not have the luxury of spending hours each day with their elderly parent (even if they would like to). One good compromise can be to arrange for a carer to come by and keep them company during the day. If your parent is relatively independent, you may just want to hire a cleaner so you can free up some time in your own schedule each week. Many things can be outsourced, so don’t be afraid to look for other options.
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