by Patricia Bunch

Created on: January 31, 2009

With the advancement in modern research finding treatment and cures for so many of the illnesses which once cut the lives of our population short, the question of where the elderly of our community are going to live out the rest of their days, is one families are dealing with on a daily basis. Because of the cuts in federal and state funding in the areas of health care for the elderly in the past ten years, more and more families are finding it necessary to bring their parents into their own homes to live.

With the rising cost of assisted living facilities and personal care homes, one must have a relatively high monthly income, or a hefty savings account to pay to live in these facilities for an extended period of time. Of course, none of us really have a way of predicting how long the person will be a resident in the facility.

Finding someone trust worthy to come stay in the home with an aging parent is a risky endeavor not many of us are willing to try. This becomes more of a problem in the rural areas of the country, perhaps, than in the larger cities. There are agencies in larger cities who have a base of employees who are dispatched to stay with the elderly, but this service is very expensive and isn't usually covered by health insurance for more than a few days during the course of a year.

Having an elderly parent living in the same house with a grown child and that child's family presents many adjustments to be made in order for all concerned to live in peace and harmony. Thankfully, it can be done if the right adjustments have been made and there are support systems in place.

Before the parent moves in to their grown child's home, if the parent is able to communicate intelligently, there needs to be a meeting between all the parties involved to get all the arrangements set in place. Is there going to have to be an addition to the home, who is going to pay for the construction, are all the other children of the parents aware of the arrangement and are in agreement with the situation? If all the potential problems which could arise are addressed before they become a problem, the chances of the arrangement being successful is higher. It is very difficult, at best, for someone to leave their own home and move into someones home and try to mesh all their lives together.

Added expenses

When another person comes into a household to live there are always added expenses to whomever is paying the bills. It should be understood before the parent moves in, given the

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