If you have a parent who is elderly and who you do not think should be living alone, then you could be wondering about your options. Perhaps they have been living alone, but it is no longer safe for them to live independently anymore. Perhaps they have been in the care of an abusive nursing home, and urgently need to be moved somewhere better. One thing that you could be thinking about is moving him or her into your home. You should know that even though this can be a good idea, it does come with some costs. These are some of the things that you may need to budget for before bringing your mom or dad home.
Home Renovations and Moving Costs
For one thing, you may need to make some renovations to your home so that you can accommodate your loved one. For example, right now, you might not have enough room for your mom or dad to live comfortably, so you may need to add an addition to your home. You may have to invest in things like a walk-in bathtub, a stair lift, a ramp that leads to your front door, and more. If your loved one is in a wheelchair, then there are some modifications to the kitchen that may make living a normal life easier. These include lowering some of the countertops and electrical outlets for easy reach.
Doing your research about these renovations can help you ensure that you can afford to get your home ready for your mom or dad to move in. In addition to these home renovations, remember to account for moving expenses–especially if your loved one lives in another state. The cost of moving typically depends on required manpower, cost of fuel, and other factors.
Medical Expenses
Next, if your parent is a little bit older, then he or she might be dealing with medical costs that were not an issue in the past. If your parent does not have adequate health insurance coverage or enough money put aside in the bank, then you might be the one who has to cover these costs. Look into health insurance costs and make sure that your family has enough money in the bank to cover deductibles and other expenses related to healthcare.
At-Home Care
Even if you are planning on providing most of the care for your parent, you may need some help along the way. After all, taking care of your parents can be a very difficult thing to do, especially if you have children or others that you are concurrently caring for. You might need professional help in order to get particular tasks done, or you may need an extra hand on some days of the week. There are a lot of good in-home care agencies out there, but they do come with a cost, so this is another thing that you’re going to need to look into. If your parent resists the idea of losing their independent lifestyle and they are still fairly functional, assisted living in a nearby community is an alternative option that can be adjusted based on your loved one’s needs without making them feel like an invalid.
As you can see, there are various expenses that you should be prepared for if you are planning on moving your elderly parent in with you and your family. Even though it can be costly, if you are able to afford it, you might just find that it’s the best option for ensuring that your elderly loved one is properly cared for.
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