You’ve been caring for an elderly mother for the last few years, and you’ve been happy to do so. After all, you think to yourself, she took care of you until you were able to go out on your own; taking care of her now is the least you can do.
Lately, however, her health has been getting worse, and you’re beginning to think that you may need to—horrors!!—put her into a Kentucky nursing home. “Stick her into a nursing home?” you think. “No way!”
You must talk to someone familiar with long-term care for the elderly. You may be harming yourself, as well as your mother, by continuing to care for her at home.
So Many Responsibilities…
Taking care of another individual is admirable, but you may be taking care of several—your spouse and children, as well as your mother. Perhaps you are even trying to work, too. Each of these responsibilities carries with it a certain amount of stress, regardless of how much you love your family and your job.
Scientists have shown a correlation between stress and our health. Consider what your family would do if the stress took its toll on your health; you can give only so much before you run dry.
When Is the Right Time to Consider a Nursing Home?
You may believe that there is never a right time; it’s natural to feel that way. Of course you are going to worry and think of all the terrible things that could happen, but they won’t all happen, and you can be there to oversee your mother’s care in the nursing home. You have every right—and the nursing home staff expect you—to speak up when something about her care concerns you.
CarePathways.com urges you to ask yourself a number of questions as you wrestle with your decision. Here are just a few:
- Is your mother able to move throughout your home safely—going up and down stairs, maneuvering through narrow doorways?
- Has your mother had any accidents recently with appliances, such as forgetting to turn off a burner or the stove?
- If your mother smokes, have you found burn holes in her bedding or clothing?
- Is your mother changing clothes every day or wearing the same dirty ones day after day?
- Does your mother need more and more help with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating?
- Is she frequently forgetting whether she took her medications?
- Is she losing weight, getting dehydrated, or refusing to eat?
- Is adequate home care assistance not financially feasible?
- Is the amount of time you spend on caregiving jeopardizing your health, your job, or your other family responsibilities?
These are just some of the questions you need to consider when making this all-important decision. Your actions will affect your mother’s health as well as your own.
Has Your Loved One Been Injured In A Nursing Home?
If you believe your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse you need to speak with an experienced Kentucky nursing home neglect attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our office directly at 888.450.4456 to schedule a free consultation.