When visiting an elderly family member over the holiday season, it’s the best time to begin evaluating how they are managing with their chosen lifestyle. While family members should be on the lookout for warning signs that their loved one might be struggling, the holiday season is not the right time to actually have a conversation about life changing events or cause stress. Families, can however, do an impromptu evaluation of their own and take note of things that should come up during future discussions.

Senior care experts recommend that families make note of the following things:

1. Learn about what your senior wants for the future – the holidays aren’t a time to bring up stressful conversations, but you can casually ask them about their desires for their future. If you learn they’re hoping to move closer to their grandchildren or to a warmer climate, that can help you understand for planning

2. Take a look at how they’re doing physically and mentally – simply being in a senior’s presence over the holidays will help you to evaluate their physical and mental health that could dictate their future senior care needs

3. Include the whole family – particularly if the senior you are assessing is a parent and you have siblings, everyone needs to be included in the discussions, at least until a family caregiver is decided to provide family care. Open the dialogue with your family members about the future of your loved one’s care

Via: www.stagesofseniorcare.com

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Home Instead Senior Care serving elders and seniors in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara and Saratoga home care - 408-370-6360.

When deciding to move your elderly mother or father into your home, finances probably aren’t your primary reason for doing it, but they will play a role once the move has taken place. Understanding both the pros and cons before hand will alleviate any unpleasant surprises on all sides, and make the experience a much more enjoyable one where no decisions are regretted!

Pros:

• Living expenses (utilities, mortgage etc) don’t increase significantly when just one person is added to the home, but having another person to contribute to these bills can reduce the home owner’s costs!

• With taxes, families might be able to receive a deduction for having an additional dependant in their home

• Household items, like food, might be bought in bulk to save more money

• Any assets from the sales of the seniors home can be invested

Cons:

• Depending upon future care needs, one or more members of the household might need to take time off work, or hire additional senior care assistance

• Seniors may lose tax deductions once they’re no longer a home owner and other factors regarding capital gain may apply

Home Instead Senior Care serving elders and seniors in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara and Saratoga home care - 408-370-6360.