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Finding Care for One Parent After a Stroke
One parent has had a stroke, and now, you’re trying to find a nursing home where they can receive the care they need. But your other parent is still healthy, and you’re trying to consider their needs as well. This is a complicated situation that families face every day. Blogs like OneHandReview can provide illuminating advice on life after stroke recovery, and these tips will help you find a way to accommodate both of your parents with respect to their unique needs.
Selling Your Parents’ Home
Nursing home care can be quite expensive. If your parent does not qualify for Medicaid or Veterans Affairs benefits, you can use personal savings, retirement income, pension funds, or even your parents’ stock portfolio to cover the costs.
Selling your parents’ home or other assets could also be a viable way to pay for nursing home fees. In order to get a realistic idea of what your parents could make from their home sale, you’ll need to accurately figure the value of these assets. For instance, to calculate their home equity, you should subtract the amount they owe on their mortgage from their home’s current market value. You may want to work with a financial advisor during this process.
Choosing a Nursing Home
At the moment, choosing the right nursing home for your parent is probably your most pressing task. Aging recommends looking at factors like services they offer for stroke recovery, the skills and qualifications of staff members, the general conditions at the facility, and the level of independence they allow for residents. You should also beware of any facilities with major red flags, like a history of violations or a poor impression of the administrators.
Downsizing Options
In addition, you will need to help your other parent consider their possibilities for downsizing. You may be able to find a senior living facility that provides a continuum of care, allowing partners with different care needs to live in the same location. If not, you could look into senior-friendly apartment complexes or small, accessible homes near your other parent’s nursing care facility.
Maintaining the Connection
If your parents have different care needs, it’s important to help them maintain their connection. It may be hard for them to adjust to this new relationship dynamic, so your support will be very beneficial. Aim to spend plenty of time with both of your parents when your schedule allows, and check-in with them to make sure that they’re spending time together when you’re not around. If one of your parents is stepping into a caregiver role, let them voice their concerns to you - being a good listener is key.
Be Compassionate
After your parent has a stroke, you’ll probably have to take on some caregiver responsibilities, too, even if they’re living in a nursing care facility. As Companions for Seniors notes, it’s necessary to be patient with yourself during this time, and remember to have compassion for everything your parents are going through. Taking on these new obligations can be tough, but ultimately, this experience can bring you even closer to your parents. Ask other caregivers who work with stroke patients for help when you need it, and find a balance between supporting your parents and taking time to relax.
When only one of your parents requires nursing home care, it can be difficult to figure out a living situation that will work for both of your parents. But it is possible to move forward while fostering a connection between your parents. With these tips, you’ll be able to navigate this challenging scenario and find workable solutions.
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By Annabelle Harris
Find more of her work here: https://elders.center/blog/