Seniors are living longer and family support has never been more important. It’s true that more Americans are taking responsibility and they are doing their best to take care of seniors at home. However, with busy work schedules and children to take care of, more families are turning to assisted living as an alternative.
But family support does not stop with assisted living. Seniors are often happier and live longer when they have continued help from their families. So, this article will touch on the role of families and the support they can give.
Family Support is Important for the Elderly
The typical assisted living residents are usually seniors in their 70s or 80s, who cannot take care of themselves every day. It’s estimated that nearly 50% of all assisted living residents have some form of cognitive impairment. In addition, most live within a half hour drive from a family member.
For some seniors, family support vanishes when they lose their lifelong partner, or their children move to other locations across the United States.
It is essential to understand the importance of family support for the elderly. Nothing is more comforting than having the emotional and loving support of family members. It is the same if you are the caregiver at a family home, or if you opt for an assisted living facility, or a nursing home.
Seniors who cannot pay for assisted living also need the financial support of other family members, too. Medical services are often expensive unless a patient has enough insurance, so family plays a key role in providing extra assistance.
Don’t forget about the close friends of your loved one. Often, these people are as important as family, especially if they’ve known them for a long time. It’s nice when they can sit for hours and have conversations to help keep your loved one mentally alert and happy.
Another sad reality is that with the rising inflation each year, many seniors do not have much money. Their pension is worth much less, and therefore, many rely on their families or the government for financial support
Family Support – Conclusion
When it comes to the elderly, family is about all they have. The rest of us get busy in our daily lives and often need to be reminded about our senior loved ones.
Whether your elderly loved one lives in an assisted living facility, nursing home, in your house, or alone, they depend on you.
Pick up the phone and check on them often. Ask them if they need anything. Better yet, visit them, because they would love to see you.
When you see them face-to-face, make a mental note of how they look. Do they seem happy? Do they look tired or confused? What about their living conditions? Share what you find with other family members, so everyone knows how they are doing, and if they need anything.
We will all eventually get older. One thing is for sure, when we are in that position, we would like it if our family and friends remembered us, and took the time to come and see us.
