Aging parents and their sophisticated needs can present real challenges for younger adults. Without being in their shoes, it can be virtually impossible to understand their viewpoint and wishes. Plus, there are numerous options available to care for aging parents; some are more desired than others. But how do you make the best choice for your family? 

An elder law attorney in Tampa from Mortellaro Law can provide valuable information, resources, expertise, and guidance when making these important decisions. We know you want the absolute best for your aging parents — we do, too. We’ve helped numerous families throughout the Tampa area make these same choices, even when they sometimes prove difficult. 

Factors that Impact Your Aging Parents 

Several considerations will factor into your decisions about how to best care for your aging parents. Of course, your primary concern is for their safety and well-being. You want to make sure they are safe in their person, property, and wishes, and can take adequate care of themselves, meeting all their needs without problems. 

As we age, those things all become harder. Wear and tear on our bodies, chronic health problems and disease, reduced mental acuity, and more can all raise the risks of living alone at home. But they can also present challenges if your loved ones live with an aid, in a retirement facility, a nursing home, with you, or in another type of arrangement. 

In addition to these concerns are how your aging parents feel and what they desire. AARP maintains that about 87 percent of elderly adults wish to age at home, known as “Aging in Place.” Whether or not they are capable of doing so safely, and whether or not they accept this, can be a particularly challenging issue to discuss. They may believe they are still capable of doing things, when their struggles can be evident to you. 

An elder law attorney in Tampa from Mortellaro Law can be a valuable third-party, professional resource to help explain the current situation and your concerns. We can also help you understand your parents’ concerns and feelings. We seek to facilitate understanding, trust, and cooperation within your family, so the best possible decisions can be made for your parents’ well-being. 

Common Options to Care for Aging Parents 

The most common options when choosing living arrangements for aging parents each have benefits and negative aspects. Each party must come to realize that certain compromises or trade-offs will be necessary. Seldom does everyone get everything they want. Families must weigh all the available options, thoroughly investigating each, before making the best choice. 

 

The best choice for your aging parents may not be the best choice for your neighbors or even other extended family members. Do not allow yourself to be bullied into making a poor decision through guilt or manipulation. Your seasoned elder law attorney can provide pivotal guidance and advice during this process. 

Aging in Place

Of course, aging in place is generally the top choice for most elderly adults. Maintaining their freedom, privacy, and sense of autonomy is of paramount importance. You may need to make some changes or add some factors to make this a viable option. Modifications to the home for additional safety and other changes may make this possible, at least for a period of time. 

Living with Family 

Moving your aging parent or parents in with you or other family members is also an option. This can allow them a measure of autonomy consistent with their abilities, while ensuring they are safe and their needs are met. However, this presents numerous challenges and adjustments for each party. Routines, private spaces, boundaries, needs, and many other issues will need to be discussed and hammered out. Your elder law attorney can help with these negotiations and suggest workable compromises. 

Living at Home with Caregiver Support 

A modification to aging in place is arranging for caregiver support at some level while your parents remain at home. This can be part time, daily, weekly, full-time, or as-needed, depending on the needs of your parents and their financial resources. In-home care can be costly, and without insurance or some other means of funding, it can eat up savings or other resources quickly. Plus, special types of caregiver support may be needed, requiring a medical professional instead of basic supportive care. 

Living in a Community or Care Facility 

Many options for living in a retirement community or structured care facility are available. While many elderly adults may reject this option outright, it is important to at least research the options available to you and weighs the pros and cons. 

 

  • Independent Living Communities provide access to many amenities and services for those adults that do not need assistance or specialized care. 
  • Assisted Living Communities provide some levels of daily care and medical services, varying from one facility to another. 
  • Continuing Care Retirement Communities offer several levels of care, depending on each resident’s needs, while still allowing for some independence and autonomy. 
  • Nursing Homes offer several levels of medical care and daily assistance but are more of a clinical setting than other care facilities. 
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities are usually temporary living and medical assistance centers that help during recovery after surgery or some other chronic illness until the resident is able to return home or to another more permanent facility. 

Call an Elder Law Attorney in Tampa Today for Help 

Before making an important decision about where your aging parent or parents should live, it’s important to fully consider their needs, feelings, and desires, and also their financial circumstances. Call Mortellaro Law today to speak with an elder law attorney in Tampa who can help you make the best choices for your family while minimizing expenses. We offer a free initial consultation.