Should You Bring Your Elderly Parents To Live With You?

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As your parents get older, you might start to become more concerned about their well-being. This is definitely going to be more apparent if your parents are either single or widowed. You might even think about bringing them to live with you. Moving elderly parents into your home is a big decision and there are a lot of key issues that you should consider first. 

Is There Enough Space?

First, you should think about whether there is enough space for everyone to live together comfortably. It’s possible that this isn’t the case and you shouldn’t try to squeeze everyone in. At the very least, your elderly parent needs to have their own room and potentially their own bathroom as well. This will ensure that they are comfortable in your home. 

Are You Prepared For Your New Role?

Next, you should think carefully about whether you are prepared for the new role that this will bring to your life. Essentially, you will be taking on the responsibilities of a carer and this is definitely going to be the case if your parent has limited levels of independence. This isn’t going to be for everyone and it will certainly impact the level of free time that you have in your personal life. You might even need to consider using additional help such as respite care to make this more manageable.

Is It Safer For Your Parents?

Of course, you should also consider whether your parents are going to be safer living with you. This can be the case. For instance, they could be suffering from a condition like dementia. If they do have this type of diagnosis then they likely won’t be safe living by themself at home. You might consider helping them find a care home or facility, however, it’s important you find a reputable nursing home if you do. Many qualified nursing home abuse attorneys have stressed how common it is for incidents to occur in places that don’t prioritize resident care. 

Could It Enrich Your Life?

Finally, you might want to think about whether living with your elderly parent could actually bring benefits to your life. At the very least it will allow you and perhaps your children to spend more time with your elderly parents. It’s a great way to ensure that your children remain connected with the older generation and learn the importance of caring for the family as well as people who are in need. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the key considerations that you should keep in mind before deciding to bring an elderly parent to live with you. You always need to think about whether it’s best for your entire family, rather than whether this is just the right choice for your parents. It’s important that everyone can live happily together and that it doesn’t cause too much stress in your life.