With life expectancy increasing, more aging adults struggle to live independently. Those who have pre-planned may have long-term care insurance that allows them to move to a retirement community, but many Texas seniors must alter their lifestyles to suit changing needs. Adult children often step in and suggest parents live with them, an arrangement that can benefit several generations living under the same roof. However, it can also create problems, so it is wise for family members to carefully weigh all factors before taking such a big step.
Adult Children Can Help Their Parents
When adult children consider senior living options, many feel that inviting parents to live with them is the right thing to do and will ensure seniors are safe. It can be a welcome relief to those who worry about older parents’ safety. Seniors who are comfortable living with their children may also be relieved and glad to have the company. When younger children still live at home, helping care for grandparents can teach them responsibility and compassion.
Living with an independent, healthy parent can enrich your family life. However, ensuring you can care for your parent’s medical needs is essential. Per WebMD, parents’ needs can change, and they may already have physical challenges you must accommodate. Determine whether you have the time, energy, and resources to provide care. If not, moving to a Texas senior living community may provide your parent with a better quality of life.
Consider Family Dynamics
A parent living in your home can strengthen their relationship with you and your children, connections that often prevent seniors from becoming lonely. They may also delight in helping entertain children. It’s an opportunity for grandchildren to learn from an older generation and create lasting bonds.
Not all seniors adapt well to changing roles from caregiver to cared-for. If there are unresolved conflicts between you and your parent, living together can be difficult and make a challenging situation worse. Caring for a senior can strain the relationship between spouses, and children might resent changing their lifestyles.
Parents could find it difficult to respect your boundaries if they are used to being authority figures. Seniors might feel isolated if they have a lonely life and family members are frequently out of the house. When generations clash or living together creates problems, older adults are often more comfortable moving to a community that provides support for seniors.
There’s a Financial Element
Sometimes, a parent improves their adult child’s finances by sharing a home. Seniors with considerable savings or income may be happy to contribute to household expenses. They might enjoy caring for children, which can also save money.
Inviting a parent to live with you can also be expensive. If you need to modify your home by adding accessibility features, building another bathroom, or adding a bedroom, costs can mount up. Per MoneyTalks News, some families even build new multiple-story additions that create a personal living space for a parent. Some parents have the funds to pay for these changes, but many do not.
If you or your parent cannot afford the needed changes, it might be wise to discuss an alternative approach. For example, they may be able to remain in their home with the help of home health care. You might consider assisted living if they need help with daily tasks and enjoy community living.
It’s Tough to Take a Break
Going home to a restful environment is a way to unwind and shed the stresses of everyday life. If your parent moves in, all that can change. When seniors can drive and have an active social life, it might not make much difference, and you can still get a chance to relax. But, if they have physical challenges or suffer from conditions like memory loss, you may deal with issues around the clock. In these cases, you could cope by taking advantage of a senior community’s respite care.
When a parent has a progressive disease like dementia, demands on your time and energy only increase over time. You have less time for your spouse, children, and self-care. In this situation, transitioning a parent to a community offering memory care will likely be the best solution for everyone.
Inviting an aging parent to live with you can enrich family relationships, help you financially, and provide peace of mind, knowing a senior is safe. However, it may not be the best arrangement for every family. If relationships are strained, the move would be expensive, or caregiving would be overwhelming for you, transitioning a parent to a senior community may benefit everyone involved.
Harvest Home & Inwood Crossing is a senior living community in Tomball, TX, offering assisted living and memory care services. We offer a safe, caring environment for residents with dementia. Our staff gives assisted living residents the extra little help they need. Experienced professionals provide the highest-quality services, and residents enjoy a range of amenities.
