Accepting that your parent(s) have aged and have health concerns and other needs that require professional care is not easy. Many adult children have reported feeling guilty. So, will you ever cope with this decision?
Yes, you will with a few practical tips, including:
Focus on the benefits
Putting your parents in nursing home care ensures they have someone watching them all the time. If you opt to live with them, you may be constantly concerned about them falling down the stairs or being involved in accidents when you are not around, which may have been the case when they were living alone. You may also find it costly to hire round-the-clock caregivers.
Further, taking care of your kids, if you have any, and going to work while caring for your parents can be overwhelming. You may not give them the care and support you wish to.
When you focus on the valid reasons for taking your parents to nursing home care and the benefits they will enjoy, you can cope with guilt.
Seek emotional support
The guilt associated with nursing home care placement can be intense. Additionally, you may experience grief since you will be separating from your parents. Even though these feelings are normal, they can affect you psychologically.
It can be beneficial to seek emotional support from a therapist, family members and friends. Caregiver support groups are also great for emotional support and education. Consider doing this from when you are weighing your options to after placement.
If you are thinking of placing your parents in nursing home care, learn more about the legal and financial issues involved to make informed decisions from the word go.
