Deciding to Become a Caretaker With a Full House

As if life wasn’t already challenging enough with a house full of children, the time has come for you to make a decision about the future care and wellbeing of your aging parents. While you’ve gone through all your options including independent living, a home health aide, and even a nursing home facility, it would seem that the best option for you and your family is to have mom and/or dad move in with you. 

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As you probably already know, having your elderly parents move in is going to change your household dynamics in a number of ways. While it is common to think about things like making a comfortable and safe space for your parents, finding time in your schedule to care for them, and having the financial means to cover the additional expenses, there’s one important factor you can’t forget - your wellbeing. 

Becoming a caretaker to your parents will have a psychological impact on you. The added responsibilities can make work-life balance even more difficult to juggle. Finding a way to be a great parent and caretaker while also caring for your own needs and interests takes hard work. 

wellbeing mantra Photo by Max van den Oetelaar on Unsplash

Unfortunately, many adult children have a hard time adjusting and slowly but surely begin neglecting their own needs. The lack of self-care can then result in mental illness such as depression or self-medicating practices like the use of drugs and alcohol. 

Keeping it All Together
Your health and sanity need to remain a top priority if you’re going to care for your aging parents, your children, and the rest of your family. If you become depressed or dependent on harmful substances it will only create more stress and complications you’ll have to overcome. There’s no denying that there won’t be stressful moments during this transition, but you can get through it a lot easier by using these mental health tips provided below: 

· Rely on Others - Being a caretaker to your aging parents isn’t something you should try to take on by yourself. This is especially true when you have children to care for. Be willing and ready to rely on others to help you every step of the way. Talk to other family members, your significant other, and, if necessary, a home health aide about the many responsibilities you have on your plate. See where they can pitch in to take some of the stress off your shoulders. 
· Know When You Need Help - Outside of getting help to care for your aging parents, there are other times when you may need assistance. Be aware of your mental and physical health. If you start to notice signs of depression, chronic stress, anxiety or begin self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, get help fast. There are facilities like Launch Centers that can help to treat both your mental illness and addiction so that you can continue to be the fighting force your family needs. 
· Diet and Exercise - A healthy diet and exercise routine are essential to staying both physically and emotionally intact. Despite the added responsibilities, make sure that you’re eating 3 meals a day and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day for five days a week. You can make these things easier by doing things like meal planning, prepping meals in batches, keeping healthy snacks on hand, waking up 30 minutes early to exercise, working out at your desk, or taking walks after dinner as a family. 
· Find Time for You - this may seem like a difficult task with all you have going on, but now more than ever, you need time for yourself. Whether it’s a few minutes in the morning stretching and listening to calming music or an hour before bed taking a bath while reading your favorite book, you need to find small ways to pick yourself up. Each day try to find at least 30 minutes to dedicate to something that makes you feel good. When you can, you should also schedule a day off or vacation just for you. This may require you to have to ask for help from friends and family, but it is absolutely necessary to allow you to have time outside of your normal environment and away from your daily routines. 

When mom and dad are no longer able to live safely and independently in their own homes, the decision is often made to have them move in. Knowing that this transition will require a lot, it is imperative that you put your physical and emotional wellbeing at the top of the list. It is only when you are at your best that you’re able to be there for your parents, your kids, and for yourself.