Your Loved One Can No Longer Live Alone: Now What?

Article submitted by Laura Hansen, owner of Always Best Care Senior Services, Denver's one-stop resource for senior housing options, in-home care and a network of senior services. She can be reached at 303-952-3060 or visit her website at www.AlwaysBestCareLittleton.com.

Those of us with aging parents typically have no idea what is ahead. We tend not to discuss the unpleasant subject of what happens when our parents or spouses can no longer be safe alone or need assistance with daily living to maintain their independence. We go along with our daily lives until, all of a sudden, the crisis hits. Mom or dad falls and breaks a hip or has a stroke, ends up debilitated and needs assistance to stay at home or requires a move to various housing/care options. Most seniors and their families have not thought about the "what if" and are unprepared when it happens. Even if we are well versed in the senior industry, the upheaval is overwhelming and confusing, especially when it is our own family member involved.

Thank goodness for a growing trend in the senior industry. Why not let a knowledgeable care coordinator do the leg work for you? A placement agency or referral service is a relatively new option. These agencies typically offer their services at no charge to families since they usually receive referral fees from the various services or housing options.

While no one can be an expert in all areas of senior care, working with a referral service will help educate families and relieve some of the stress, so they can focus on the emotional task ahead. Can mom stay in her home with in-home care or is a move to one of the senior housing options a better choice? The pros and cons of each option can be discussed with a knowledgeable professional, who will save you time by sharing their expertise, walking you through the process and usually driving you to tour appropriate housing choices. These services can provide additional resources such as in-home care, supplemental care, downsizing and moving companies, estate sale companies, real estate agents, elder law attorneys, VA benefit assistance, Medicaid experts, medical supply companies, etc.

Most families are unaware of the resources available to them to navigate the system. Information is abundant, sometimes conflicting, and generally overwhelming to those unfamiliar with the system and jargon. Being in crisis mode often results in poor decisions, even with the best intentions.

So, when crisis hits, why not take advantage of a single resource to help guide you through stressful times?