Finding the Right Care for a Family Member
At some point in your life, you may face caring for a family member. For most of us, this involves an aging parent, but it might involve another loved one, as well. Our family members may need help due to declining health, a sudden accident, or an addiction. At least 80% of the elderly have a chronic disease, and the older your parents become, the more you may need to assist them. If you have a sibling with a substance addiction, you may be the voice of reality in an otherwise fictionalized existence. It can be hard to navigate any season of family care, so it’s important to keep in mind these three tips.
Try to Find Discounts
Care for a family member can get expensive. Whether it’s in-home care for an aging parent or rehab for an addicted sibling, finding the funds can prove to be a challenge. You may want to find a healthcare advisor who can research the best deal possible for you and your loved one. You might be worried that a less expensive solution is a lower quality solution, but that isn’t always the case. Your loved one deserves the best possible care as they battle this season of life, and the right discount could allow you to pay for better care, or for your loved one to afford their own treatment. Talk to consultants, do research online, and never give up trying to find a discounted option for top-quality care.
Make Sure They’re Willing
You might be certain that your parent needs help around the house. It might be very clear that your sibling has an alcohol addiction. That doesn’t mean, however, that they’re ready to accept help. Don’t charge full steam ahead with offering assistance until you’re sure your loved one is ready. If you keep hinting about AA meetings nearby, your sibling may get resentful and stop listening to you altogether. If you pressure your parent to accept help right away, you might lose their trust by the time outside help becomes critical. Take things slowly and take your cues from them. On some level, they know they need help, and, even if they’re resistant at first, slow and steady will win the race.
Talk Everything Out Beforehand
Unless your loved one is a minor, mentally unstable, or comatose, they need to be part of the decision-making process. If you’re paying for your parent’s long-term care, you might feel like you have the right to call all the shots. Remember that, even though it’s your money, it’s still their life, and you should let them make as many of the decisions as possible. If you’re supporting your sibling in any way, make sure you don’t make any moves without asking them first, even if you think it’s for their greater good. Communication is a key part of remaining allies during this season, so make sure you discuss the large and the small with your loved one.
