When family members advance in age, they may be unable to care for themselves, either because of illness or mere frailty. If you are weighing the option of bringing a relative into your home so that you can better care for him or her, there are a few things you should consider.
The most important thing to determine is whether or not you have the proper time, money, and equipment to fully attend to your loved one's medical needs. Consider the cost (both monetary and psychological) of these things and their alternatives.
For example, at-home hospice care can cost quite a bit and, while you may not want the bottom line to affect your decision, it is important to make sure that you can afford it, otherwise you're not helping anybody. Weigh the pricing options and see whether bringing the relative to your home would be more cost-effective than having them placed in a nursing home. Round-the-clock care at a nursing home can be pricey, but is sometimes the more practical option.
You'll also want to be realistic about how much attention you and the rest of your family can give your new house member and how much he or she will actually need. If there is someone home most of the time or your relative does not need to be attended to every minute of the day, then the addition may not be that stressful; if the person needs a lot of care and attention, asking the family to take on the responsibility without a little help might be unfair. Hiring a nurse to attend to the relative while everyone is at work can often be an agreeable solution.
It's also important to know what kind of equipment your relative will need in order to live the best life possible while with you. Will he or she only need diabetes supplies or will you have to invest in a special bed, bathroom aids, and wheelchairs? The answer to this question will make a big difference in terms of how much you will have to do around the house to accommodate the newest member, and how much you'll have to potentially spend.
Providing the proper nursing and medical supplies, making sure that medical needs are met, and ensuring comfort are important aspects of caring for an elderly relative. If you cannot provide the proper care, then it would probably be wise to explore other options before deciding .
Sources
Impact of home care versus alternative locations of care on elder health outcomes
