*This is a collaborative post.
As parents age, there may come a time when you consider moving them into your home. If they are struggling around the house and they do not live close to you, it can be difficult to give them the care and attention they need as they struggle with daily activities. There are many benefits of moving your parents into your family home, here we discuss those in more detail.
Safety
Knowing your parents are in your family home provides an element of safety that you cannot get if they live an hour’s drive away. If something were to happen, you can access your own home quickly, and most evenings you and your family will be at home in case anything did happen. This provides a lot of peace of mind for you and your family.
If your parents do move in, you can make sure that your home is safe and suitable for ageing parents. If they have mobility issues, you might want to install grab rails, chair lifts, and shower chairs to make their life a lot easier and ensure they remain as independent as possible.
Mobile hoists are another fantastic addition to your home and can keep you and your parents safe if they need help getting in and out of the bath or bed. Wheeled hoists can be moved around, making it easier to get from room to room, especially if your parent is having a tough day. Also, wheeled hoists can be moved easily to another room when not in use, which is handy if you do not have a lot of space.
Time
Anybody that looks after ageing parents knows how difficult it can be to manage time for grocery shopping, helping with cleaning, and with any other tasks they are beginning to struggle with. If you work full-time and have children, this leaves no time for yourself.
Having your parents move into your family home means you do not have to go anywhere to be able to give them the care that you want. This also leaves you with more time to do the things that you need to, such as household chores, getting the kids from school, and also having some much-deserved me-time.
Respecting Their Wishes
A lot of people do not necessarily want to go into a care home or have strangers coming into their home to care for them. Whilst this can not always be avoided and there are times when this is the safest and only option, if you can move your parents into your home, you can respect their wishes for staying at home.
Even if moving them into your home is a temporary thing before they go into a care home or you get carers to help, you are still able to respect what they want for as long as possible. Sometimes, staying in their own home is not possible, so moving them in with you is a viable alternative.
Family Time
As your parents get older, family time can feel even more important. If you struggle to get around to your parent’s house as much as you would like, having them at home with you means you can develop a stronger family bond and your parents can be a big part of your family life.
As our parents’ age, they are more likely to feel lonely, as they might not be able to leave the house as much or see others. Having family living with you can lower feelings of loneliness and minimise the risk of depression. It can also be handy to have your parents around the house if you need to pop out, as they may be able to keep an eye on the kids or pets.
They are Somewhere Familiar
Familiarity is particularly important if your parents are beginning to struggle with memory or have a condition like Alzheimer’s, where they may start to get confused with their surroundings. Being in a familiar environment will seem a lot less scary to them, especially on bad days. This can have an impact on their emotional wellbeing and mental health too.
You should also make their room familiar to them, with things from their own home like their favourite bedsheets, painting, and ornaments. This will make them feel safe and secure.
Being somewhere familiar can give them more independence, as they are more likely to remember how the toilet works, how to heat food in the microwave, how to get the TV on, and many other tasks we often take for granted. When living with cognitive diseases, little things such as familiarity can really help.
Better Money Management
Looking after your parents in your home will make managing money easier. Not only will you not have to travel anywhere to care for them, but you may also be able to look after them yourself, meaning you do not have to pay for care. If they have a pension, you may even discuss rental arrangements or help with bills and food shopping.
This can make the financial load easier on you and is a much cheaper alternative to a care home. If your parents are not able to move back into their own home, you should also discuss selling their home. This could mean more money for the future if a care home or care setting is something you have discussed as a possibility if their condition worsens.
Also, if you decide to look after your parents full-time and leave your current job role, you may be able to get a carer’s allowance, which can help with the costs of care and essentials like food. This can be applied for through the government website.
Should You Do It?
Be sure to look at all options available for your parents before making a definitive decision. With many options to choose from including care homes, residential care, and home carers, it can be difficult to know what is best for everyone involved.
You can choose to move your parents in with you for a trial period, to see how it works for everyone. Do not put too much pressure on yourself, as causing yourself to burn out will not help the situation and will make it harder for you to give your parents the care and energy that they need.
Ultimately, the decision needs to come down to yourself and your parents and what will work best in your family dynamic. If you have young kids or pets, this is also something to consider, especially if it could stress your parents or cause more issues. We all want what is best for our parents and sometimes moving them in with us is best, other times it is not.
Moving your parents into your family home can ensure they are close at hand if they ever need help. This can help with time constraints if you work and have other commitments. It also means you can have more family time and build stronger family connections. If you are considering moving your parents in with you, check out and talk about all options as a family before making a final decision.
