by Anthony Megna

Created on: June 05, 2008   Last Updated: January 07, 2012

There is no reason in the world why healthy elderly patients shouldn't be cared for by the family. If they are mobile and lucid, there is a lot to learn from seniors. Don't forget, they have lived a full life and have experienced many of the same issues the younger family members are going through now, just in a different time frame. Listen and learn to what they have to say, you will be surprised!

Now, for the elderly that need professional help that is a different matter entirely. I write from personal experience with the trials and tribulations of my ninety year old mother. Physically, she is pretty healthy. Sure, she needs a walker to get around, but basically she is a hardy lady. The problem is she is suffering from dementia. I live in Las Vegas and she is in a senior care facility in Massachusetts. When she saw me on my latest visit to town she didn't know who I was! That blew my mind. I truly expected her to ask her normal questions about job and family. But when your own mother doesn't recognize you, you know the days of family care are over. She needs professional care and she is getting it. By the way, she is quite content in her own world and seems to happier than I ever remember her being.

Although it's quite admirable for family members to want to take care of their parents or elderly relations, sometimes it is just impossible. My sister told me she would take care of Mom if she had more room in her house and if Mom was a bit more aware, but I truly understand that is not to be. In fact, my sister has done more than enough to ease my mother into facility after facility trying to find the right one. This process is stressful for all family members, not just the elderly. Some proactive planning will help in the long run. Start putting your parents name on senior care facilities lists because the wait to get them into these places can be long. In the meantime, what do you do when the elderly need care now? You may find them getting bounced around from family member to family member which can be a real drag. That is why I advocate checking out the care facilities now when they are healthy. Believe me, it will be worth it.

In summary, I believe if the family can care for the elderly, than by all means do it. After all, they sacrificed for you and that is the least you can do in their golden years. If not, seek out the pros. That is what they get paid for.

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