When a parent has cancer, it’s stressful for everyone. As you navigate treatment options like surgery, chemo, radiation, etc., you have to also weigh what care your parent needs. You have to consider your own work schedule, activities with any children living at home, and time for friends and a spouse or partner. It’s a lot, but you also need to be there for your parent. How do you plan this so that your parent’s support needs come first, but you don’t burn out trying to take on too much? What role can elder care play in ensuring your senior’s safety and happiness while aging in place?
Is Anyone Available to Help?
If you have siblings, cousins, or close family friends in the area, ask them to help out. You do need to make sure your parent is okay with others knowing, but it’s important to arrange a strong support team as quickly as you can. Build an online calendar or spreadsheet with the things that need to be completed and let people sign up for slots.
There are going to be a lot of appointments, and your parent cannot drive to them. Grocery shopping, prescription refills, housework, meals, laundry, and personal care assistance will all be a struggle for your parent, so others need to chip in and help as much as possible.
Even if you qualify for FMLA, it’s often limited to a maximum of 12 weeks, and it’s unpaid in most cases. You may not be able to afford to take that time unpaid, so you have to balance your parent’s need for help with your career.
Attend Your Parent’s Medical Appointments
Make sure you attend any appointments with the oncologist. The more you know about the disease and treatment plan, the better prepared you are to help out. You’ll need to know how long treatments will last, what medications may be prescribed, and what side effects may occur.
You’ll need to know about any surgical treatments and what that means for a recovery time. If your parent won’t be able to lift anything heavier than five pounds, it’s going to limit a lot of routine chores like laundry, carrying in groceries, and even carrying a vacuum from one floor to the next.
Plus, cancer treatments may drain your parent’s energy. You may need to take over all of the housework, driving, and pet care for now.
Caring for a parent isn’t always easy. You should make sure you have a support person there to ensure you can take breaks from time to time. Elder care aides are the ideal solution when you don’t have a strong support team due to distance or the fact that you’re an only child.
Elder care aides can help your parent when you need a day off. Learn more about respite care services and how to arrange to have a caregiver help your mom when you need a break.
If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Celina, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call 817-928-5788.
Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in Denton County, Montague County, Cooke County, Grayson County, Fannin County, Lamar County, Wise County, Collin County, Hunt County, Delta County, and Hopkins County in Texas.
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