One of the most challenging decisions you’ll have to make in your life may be to place your elderly relative in senior community living. So many family caregivers feel bad about placing loved ones in memory care, assisted living, or nursing facilities.
However, moving a person to a location where they will be secure and receive the care, they require is important when providing care for someone at home becomes risky or impossible.
Unfortunately, even if this is the wisest course of action for your health and theirs, the shame and anguish may still be too much to bear. It hurts when you have bad thoughts and sentiments regarding a choice you have to make.
Understand The Cause Of The Guilt
It will take time for your emotions to catch up to your mental understanding. Understanding what’s generating the guilt might help you accept the choice and lessen emotional stress while adjusting to the adjustments. There is no universal rule regarding this.
Different people will have other causes of guilt in this scenario. If the guilt is overwhelming, it may be necessary to seek professional help to find out the real cause of the problem and how to tackle it. This goes a long way in providing peace of mind for the loved one and the family members or caregivers.
Always Remember That You Are Not Abandoning Them
Seeking a senior living community for a loved one might seem like abandoning them. However, this is never the case. This decision is usually borne out of love and the need to give your loved one the best care possible, which may not be possible if you are living with them.
It’s not a sign of carelessness to move someone into assisted living. To provide them with the amount of care they require—a level of care that, eventually, might not be possible at home—you must prioritize their health and safety.
You’ll probably still spend much time checking in with the staff, standing up for their needs, and overseeing their general care.
Living In A Retirement Community Does Not Make You An Imperfect Caregiver
Choosing to have your loved one live in an independent senior living community is not a sign that you are a bad caregiver. More often than not, it is the opposite.
It’s unfair to compare yourself to other families since every family has a unique circumstance, and you don’t know their whole story. For instance, a greater degree of care may be required for your elderly relative, or they may have more severe health issues than is practical to give at home.
It’s also time to shift your living arrangement if a loved one’s health declines or someone is at risk of getting hurt. In these circumstances, transferring your elderly relative ensures their well-being, safety, and access to their critical care. Furthermore, you won’t be able to care for children for very long if your health is failing.
