Who Can You Lean on When You're an Only Child?

By Andy Niska | May 11, 2017 |

Elder Care in North Spokane WA: Who Can You Lean on When You’re an Only Child?

Now that your parents are older and need help with some daily or weekly tasks, you’re likely shouldering a lot of that assistance. Being called to their home gets stressful. You have your own job, your own children and spouse, and your own home to take care of. If you’re an only child and don’t have siblings to help share responsibilities, who can you lean on?

Studies Show You Can’t Do It Alone

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, there are more than 43 million informal caregivers in the U.S. Informal caregivers include family members who do not get paid to look after an elderly parent. It’s also estimated that informal caregivers provide just over 24 hours of care each week for a period of 4 years.

The National Alliance for Caregiving also found that informal caregivers reported their personal activities dropped by 27 percent as a result of their responsibilities to the aging parent in their lives. Those who had to travel more than 20 miles to get to their parent’s home reported feeling more stress than those who lived with their parent, though feelings of being stressed were still present in those living with their parent. The bottom line is that caring for a family member is stressful. You need to know how to reach out and get help.

Tips for Finding Help

Start with your doctor. Your doctor has seen many cases where an elderly parent is being cared for by an adult child. The doctor’s office will have social workers available for you to talk to. Your doctor will also be able to recommend services to help you out. Often, you’re looking at services like the Visiting Nurse Association or your area’s Agency on Aging.

Talk to your church official too. There may be a volunteer group within your church that can offer you respite for a few hours a week. Use that time to have fun. Go out with friends, head to a spa for some pampering, or go to the movies with a loved one.

Hire an Elder Care Service

Even if you only hire an elder care professional for a few hours a week, those few hours will help. Let the elder care service take care of some of the routine tasks you don’t enjoy. Maybe you hate doing your mom or dad’s laundry or meals have become an annoyance. Talk to an elder care service about what help is needed and work with the agency to create a schedule that eases some of your stress.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in North Spokane WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.