Our parents are bound to reach an age where they may require varying degrees of living assistance. Retirement homes are expensive, and many seniors would prefer to spend their golden years with their loved ones. In this case, caring for your elderly parents at home can be the perfect solution. However, with extra care comes extra expenses, so it’s helpful to plan for these future expenses before moving in a parent. Our goal in this article is to help you create a strategy for taking care of your parents while maintaining a budget.
1. Download an App
One of the easiest things you can do is download a budgeting app. This is as easy as clicking a button and inputting your information. You’ll find several free budgeting apps on the market, with Mint being one of the most popular. Having all your finances and budgets in one place makes managing them a lot easier - and a lot less stressful.
2. Look into Assistance Programs
Several programs recognize the cost of caring for a parent at home and provide services to aide both parties. Government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare are excellent options. You can also look into meal delivery services and other organizations that offer helpful resources to caregivers.
3. Take Classes
Look into local or online classes that will educate you on how to perform some of the same services that paid caregivers would. You can learn strategies for exercise and dieting, emergency protocols, and how to navigate conditions such as Alzheimer’s and incontinence. Many programs offer extensive video tutorials at no cost to you.
4. Shop Smart
You may end up with more expenses than services such as Medicare can offset. This is especially true in cases where your parent is experiencing any form of health issue. Keep a list of the things you’ll need to buy and the best places to buy them. For food, purchase a membership to a store such as Costco and buy in bulk when possible. If your parent need protection against urinary leaks,
purchase reusable underwear instead of investing a ton of money in the disposable kind.
5. Collaborate with Other Family Members
You don’t have to do this alone - caring for an elderly parent is hard, and you’ll need a break now and again. The care you provide can be an investment of both time and money, and although you’re happy to take care of your parent, you deserve for some of the weight to be lifted off your shoulders from time to time. Meet with other family members and discuss how they can take on some of the responsibility.
