12 • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020 • CAREGIVER
CHANGES AT HOME
FAMILY DYNAMICS
How to prepare everyone when an aging loved one is moving in
No man or woman, regardless of his
or her age, wants to consider that a day
might come when they need to rely on
loved ones to help them perform everyday
activities.
But every day, millions of people serve as
unpaid caregivers for their aging friends or
family members.
A 2015 survey from the National Alliance
for Caregiving and AARP found that approximately
34.2 million people had provided
unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in the
past 12 months.
Many unpaid caregivers are pulling double
duty, caring for their aging parents while also
raising families of their own.
While there’s no guarantee that aging
men and women will require care, caregivers
figure to become more necessary as life
expectancies increase.
In fact, recent years have seen the senior
population in the United States exceed
50 million for the first time in the country’s
history, and figures from the U.S. Census
Bureau suggest that figure will continue to
rise until 2029.
Men and women who are preparing to welcome
an aging loved one into their homes
might wonder how to make that transition
go smoothly, especially if they have young
children at home.
The following are some tips that can help
families prepare to welcome an aging friend
or family member into their homes.
Consult the doctors
Speak with an aging loved one’s physicians
so you can get a complete picture of their
physical and mental condition.
This can give you an accurate depiction of
how much care your loved one needs now
and how much they might need in the future
if their condition worsens.
BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
STOCK.ADOBE.COM