If you have an aging parent who you feel is isolated right now and needs help, moving them to live with your family could be a good idea. But you also have to know some of the downsides that come with living with an older parent. Your life will have to change, and you don’t know yet if your parents will be able to adapt to your household. You also don’t know if your home is the best place for a senior to live. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of having older parents move in with you.
Pro – They’ll be Closer to You
If your parents live far away and you feel guilty about not being able to see them as often as you should because of that, bringing them home could be a good solution. They’ll be with you most of the time, and you won’t have to think about visits anymore. They’ll also have the chance to see their grandchildren more often, which will make a huge difference in their quality of life.
Con – They may Value their Freedom
You have to know that some seniors love having their freedom, however, and might not like the idea of having to abide by your house’s rules. This is why you shouldn’t assume that they will be thrilled with the idea of moving with you. You could go through and have them move in, and they might think and act as if they like it, but they could end up rebelling later and express a desire for more autonomy.
This is why you should consider other options like assisted living.
If you’re living in the St Louis area, you should check out assisted living Chesterfield MO senior retirement homes and see how they like it. They will have the freedom of an apartment and will get assistance with food, cleaning, and various other tasks. This might be the absolute best setting for an older person who might be suffering from health issues or simply doesn’t have the energy to do everything themselves.
Pro – It’s Affordable
If they or you don’t have the means to pay for a retirement home, however, then moving them with you could be the only option. If you don’t feel like they’re safe where they are or are concerned about their mental health, then moving them home will allow you to keep a close eye on them and reduce the chance of incidents happening.
Con – It will Impede Your Lifestyle
You’ll have to make changes when you bring a senior into the house. You might have to rearrange your schedule so that someone can stay with them at all times. You may also have to change family plans and consider them when looking at holiday options. You may have to change things like the time at which children and you have to go to bed too, among other things. So, evaluate these changes before you welcome them in, and try to get into your new rhythm before they come, to facilitate the transition.
As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages to having older parents live with you. Make sure that you look at all of them in detail and sit down with both your parents and family to see if this is something that could work.
