Aging adults often need more assistance as they grow old. Before you become your parent’s primary care provider, it’s important to understand if you are up to the job. Providing home care for elderly adults is just that – a job. You will be taking over daily tasks like bathing, dressing and toileting for them. Role reversal is not an easy task, and too often family members become poor caregivers.  When mom or dad took care of you, they saw growth and the future. As you care for your loved one, you see regression and the end of life.

There is much more to caring for an aging family member than providing a home and a bed. According to providers of home care for elderly adults, training for caregivers is essential. Bathing a full grown adult poses many challenges. Your mother or father may not be capable of moving on their own. If your loved one is bedridden or must be assisted in and out of bed, a caregiver may need assistance, which may include a medical apparatus.  Before using any medical equipment, it is important that the individual is trained on its proper usage.

Providers of senior care share that when meeting the needs of an aging adult they are also responding to the needs (and fears) of the family too. When family members are caring for mom or dad, they need support and training from trained providers of home care for elderly adults. As a caregiver, it is essential to keep the continuum of daily life in motion. This includes activities like eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, companionship and maintaining a regular sleep schedule. This plan is imperative for both care provider and parent.