4 Surprising Ways to Take the Stress Out of Moving a Senior Parent into Your Home

When a senior parent needs extra care, it can make sense to move them into your home to make care more convenient. Before you make this move though, you will also need to take some steps to make your home safe and comfortable. You may know the basics for keeping your loved one safe in your home, but there are some fairly surprising ways you can take the stress out of preparing your home for an elderly loved one, such as:

Paying for Senior Home Modifications With Grants

One of the most common pressures faced by family caregivers is paying for home modifications. If your home needs to be updated with accessibility features that make it easier to provide care or that make life safer for your senior parent, you can look for special programs and grants to relieve some of the financial pressure of paying for modifications. From American Red Cross programs to various sources of veteran’s aid, there are many options for funding senior home modifications, so don’t let your loved one’s needs place undue burden on your budget. You can use these grants and funds to help with common senior safety modifications in your home, such as adding ramps for mobility or remodeling bathrooms to prevent falls.

Adding Extra Space With a Custom Steel Building

Family caregivers will likely need to help aging parents downsize their belongings before moving, but chances are they will still have some furniture and other items they want to keep. To prevent these excess items from cluttering your home, you could invest in extra storage with a steel building. Although initial costs may seem more expensive, setting up a steel building on your property will actually be cheaper than renting a storage unit. Some added perks of using a steel building include easy access to store items and the peace of mind that the contents are protected. You could also convert your steel building into additional living space if needed for your senior relative or even for yourself.

Using Smart Home Gadgets to Keep Seniors Safe

Did you know that many of the latest smart home devices that can keep you more comfortable in your home can also help seniors stay safe? For instance, you could install a video doorbell system to protect your packages from porch pirates, but adding this feature can also provide you with some peace of mind if you need to leave your senior parent alone in your home. Your loved one, and even you, will be able to see and speak to whoever comes to your door, without any worry of allowing intruders into your home or increasing your aging parent’s risks for falling. Other smart home features that can help you provide better care include automatic doors and smart lighting; there are options for every senior need and family budget.

Carefully Considering All Senior Care and Living Options

Whether an aging parent needs extra care or financial help, moving into your home may seem like the most logical solution. But before you make any changes to your home, you need to think about whether this really is the best option for your senior family member and you. Research other family caregiver experiences to get a better idea of what to expect. After your parent moves in, you may be faced with additional responsibilities you never expected, such as safeguarding them from poor decisions or providing meals every day. That may be a fair trade off for the benefits of living with your aging parent. But if the care needed exceeds your abilities, assisted living may be the better choice for your senior parent and their quality of life.

Following these recommendations when moving an elderly parent into your home can relieve a lot of pressure. Ultimately, you need to make sure your emotions and your entire family are prepared for the transition. Use whatever tips and tricks you need to get your home ready, so that you can focus on helping your loved ones adjust to this significant change.