The transition from independent living to assisted care can be challenging for the elderly and their caregivers, but knowing when to make that change doesn’t need to be a mystery. It’s important to talk with your aging loved one, their medical team, family members, and other professionals before making a change in their living situation or their daily routine.

Here are few signs that indicate that additional assistance or a transition in housing might be needed:

forgetting to take medication or taking it incorrectly
signs of physical injury
weight loss
lack of hygiene
increase in car accidents
feeling suspicious of others
increasingly forgetful or disoriented

Options for Eldercare

There are several housing and healthcare options for your aging loved. Here are a few:

Assistance at home. Your loved one might feel comfortable staying in their home or moving to a retirement community where amenities are more convenient. Look into hiring a home health aide to assist with medication, dressing, or other hygienic needs. There’s also technology available to help with daily tasks, such as adapted bathtubs, phones, or medical alert devices.
Assisted living. This environment feels very home-like to many older adults. Additional assistance is offered with meals, laundry, and social activities. Nurses and medical assistants are available to assist with medications and other basic medical care.
Skilled nursing facilities. Those who do not need to be hospitalized but still require 24-hour nursing services can benefit from this housing situation. There are also rehabilitation services available for those who are capable of returning back to independent or semi-independent living.
Continuing care community. These accommodations offer a continuum of care as older adults experience deterioration in health or greater needs arise and allow them to move through the stages of housing. They could enter first into the independent living portion. Then as the need arises, they can move to assisted living or nursing home facilities.

Eldercare Legal Issues

It’s important to discuss end-of-life decisions before your aging loved one becomes mentally incapacitated. An attorney can help you and the older adult talk through the legal options and responsibilities. The following list provides some important basic legal definitions:

Durable power of attorney. When a person becomes incapacitated and can’t make major financial decisions, a durable power of attorney comes into play. This is different than a power of attorney, which is effective only when the principle person is competent. A health care power of attorney acts as a durable power of attorney and allows medical decisions to be made when a person is incapacitated.
Guardianship. When the court declares someone incompetent, a guardian or conservator is appointed. This person manages financial affairs, makes living arrangements, and handles medical decisions.
Living will. This is a written statement where the person gives specific directions on medical treatments should they become incapacitated. These often include which life-sustaining measures should or should not be used. A living will can also state whether medical decisions should be made by the health care power of attorney.

Planning for Caregivers

Caregiving responsibilities range in levels of involvement. It’s important to keep communication open between you, family members, your aging loved ones, and their medical team. The following tips will help you plan for a successful transition to caregiving for an older adult:

Be honest. Have open and honest dialogue with the older person as much as possible. Ask how they would like their needs met and do your best to honor that.
Be gentle and understanding. It’s common for the elderly to appear angrier or more defiant than they used to be. Often they’re struggling with losing their choices and independence.
Listen. Listen to any concerns or worries they might have. Recognize there could be a level of grieving as they come to terms with the aging process.
Make a plan. Distinguish between what is urgent and what is moderately important, then prioritize your plan of action. Consider having an alternative option in case your loved one’s first wishes aren’t available or don’t work. Seek out medical, legal, and financial advice as needed, and be sure to involve other family members in the planning process. Your plan might include:
- housing and accommodations options (meal delivery, home health services)
- medical history, physician’s contact information, informing the doctor as to who is serving as the health care power of attorney
- a contact list of your loved one’s support network (clergy, friends, neighbors)
- financial plans (income sources, possible liabilities, individual net worth)
- legal plans outlining the location of all wills, living wills, and legal documents, establishing who is acting as the power of attorney
Get support. Caregiving can take a physical and emotional toll. Start early by developing support. Delegate tasks to other family members to give yourself a respite and a chance to enjoy spending time with your aging loved one.

Caring for someone else has its challenges, but it can also be a gift to yourself and the person you’re caring for. Staying informed about the legal, medical, and emotional aspects of eldercare can help maintain a positive transition for everyone.

Looking for more information? Check out these resources:

American Geriatric Society. Health In Aging. Caregiver guide: Caregiving. Accessed January 26, 2023.

AARP. 8 rules for new caregivers. Accessed January 26, 2023.

Eldercare Locator (acl.gov)

Eldercare

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