Adult Children Caring for Aging Parents in Natick/Wellesley Area Face Role Reversal

(ARA) - The catch phrase says it all. Adult children who are caring for their parents while also raising their own family are known as “the sandwich generation.” These caregivers find themselves pulled in many directions -- caring for a parent, raising their children, keeping their marriage healthy and often holding down a job as well.

On top of all this, adult caregivers are thrust into the awkward and often unwanted position of feeling like they’re parenting their own parents. “It can be unsettling to find yourself in this role,” says Richard Bitner of Visiting Angels, a national network of franchised non-medical senior homecare agencies. He points out that this reversal in the parenting role can give rise to stress for both parents and caregivers.

A recent survey by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found that an estimated 22.4 million U.S. households -- nearly one in four -- are providing care to someone age 50 or older or have provided care during the previous 12 months.

As these caregivers have discovered, it takes a lot of time, energy and patience to care for an aging loved one, and often it can seem like all of these attributes are in short supply. It’s not surprising, then, that guilt coupled with resentment are prevalent emotions among caregivers.

“Caregivers’ lives have been turned upside down,” says Bitner. “Despite the fact that they love their parents, caring for a parent is a big responsibility that affects the whole family.” Plans for the immediate future go out the window. Schedules that were already jam-packed and complicated need to be reworked. Children may resent the new demands on their parents’ time and attention.

With all these added stressors, experts emphasize the importance of caretakers looking after their own physical and emotional health. “You can’t take care of someone else without taking care of yourself first,” agrees Bitner. This involves getting help from others, whether it be from siblings, a support group or a health care service.

Home Care Services for Natick/Wellesley MA and Nearby Areas

The staff at Visiting Angels understands this need. The company provides non-medical caregivers who go into clients’ homes to offer companionship or the elderly parent, do light housekeeping, run errands, prepare meals or do shopping -- all services that can provide a respite for families dealing with the care of a loved one.

“You can be confident that your caregiver is qualified and has excellent references,” says Bitner. The company hires only experienced caregivers who pass a rigorous screening process. They also look for intangible traits such as a caring personality. Many of the company’s caregivers are former hospital staffers looking for the opportunity to do one-on-one personal care for the elderly

“We work with each family to develop an individualized program to manage the daily needs of the client and then match those needs to the best possible caregiver,” explains Bitner. Caregivers are then introduced to the family, who has the final say in the selection process.

Once the caregiver has been placed in the home, Visiting Angels continues its personalized contact through telephone check-ins and home visits to make sure the match is a good one.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to elderly and disabled adults. Countless families in Newton, Needham, Brookline, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Natick, Wellesley, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood and nearby towns have benefited from our dementia care, Alzheimer's care, companion care, elderly care, respite support, transitional aid, and senior home care services. While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a big impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Call us at 617-795-2727 for information!

Respite Care Services Helps You Care for Your Loved-One

You’re rushing out of the office on a weeknight, hoping to get your daughter to soccer practice on time, cook dinner and help your other child with their homework. Just as you hit the road, your cell phone rings. It’s the pharmacy telling you that the two prescriptions your father needs immediately are ready for pick up. Or you’re off to your son’s school play just as your mom’s neighbor calls to inform you that she has fallen again and needs you right away.

If these scenarios sound familiar, you’re stuck in the middle and have joined the “sandwich generation.” The term refers to adults with families of their own who find themselves caring for their parents as well. According to numbers from the National Family Caregiver Survey, 44 percent of Americans between the ages of 45 and 55 have aging parents or in-laws as well as children under 21.

This means that lots of families are dealing as best they can with the stress of running two households. Whether your parent lives with you, lives nearby or lives in another state, trying to juggle all these responsibilities is stressful, no matter how much support you have from family and friends.

And don’t forget the guilt. There’s plenty of that, too. Guilt over not spending enough time helping your kids with their homework because you’re cooking and freezing meals for your dad. Guilt over making your mom postpones her doctor appointment because your meeting at work ran overtime. Guilt at not having enough time to spend with your spouse. Guilt over asking your next-door neighbor to drive the kids to football practice – again – because you have to make long distance arrangements to attend to your loved one’s needs in another state.

Homecare Agencies Provide Respite for Families With Elderly Loved-Ones

“Caring for an aging or ill parent is a full-time job that can take a toll on the caregiver. Add to that the demands of your job, lost time at the job plus your immediate family’s needs chances are you’re going to need assistance along the way,” says Richard Bitner of Visiting Angels, a national network of franchised non-medical senior homecare agencies.

“Not everyone needs to be placed into an institutional facility and can remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own home,” says Bitner. “Visiting Angels provides something these families have been missing -- stability in everyone’s lives and peace of mind.”

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton, MA provides senior homecare to help elderly and older adults continue to live in their homes. These caring, experienced home caregivers provide up to 24-hour care in the comfort of the client’s own home.

In addition to offering joyful companionship, Visiting Angels can provide a vital link in patient care. Although Visiting Angels are non-medical caregivers, they are an important link between the patient, their family and their doctor.

Caregivers will also do light housekeeping, run errands, prepare meals or do shopping -- other ways they can provide a respite for families dealing with the care of a loved one.
Please contact Visiting Angels Newton/Canton to speak with one of our knowledgeable Case Managers at 617-795-2727 to learn more about our programs.

About Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton MA is an award winning local home care agency providing high caliber in-home care services to elderly and disabled adults. Countless families in Newton, Needham, Brookline, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Natick, Wellesley, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood and nearby towns in Greater Boston have benefited from our dementia care, alzheimer's care, companion care, elderly care, respite support, transitional aid, and senior home care services. While non-medical in nature, the care provided by Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can make a big impact on your loved one's happiness and quality of life. Call us at 617-795-2727 for information!

Differences between Dementia Care and Regular Home Care

If your elderly loved one is showing signs of dementia, he or she may need more than regular elderly home care services.  A high quality home care agency will do a thorough assessment of individual needs to design a customized home care plan for each client. But still, it is important for you to understand the different types of care available.  Home care needs are different for healthy seniors vs those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Regular Home Care Services

​Regular in-home care is intended for individuals who require assistance with certain tasks but are able to maintain some independence.  A home caregiver provides help with activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, and with household chores like light housecleaning, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. This type of care might also provide medication management and transportation to medical appointments. Regular home care may be appropriate for someone in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, but as the disease progresses, more specialized care is needed.

​Dementia Home Care Services

Dementia home care is tailored to the challenges related to the different types of dementia and the changing needs through the progression of the disease. Dementia caregivers are familiar with the stages of the disease, common behaviors, and safety issues related to dementia as well as how to handle erratic moods and behavior. Care plans focus on the specific needs of an individual with dementia, including likes, dislikes, and personality. Dementia care incorporates activities designed to stimulate memory such as looking at family photo albums or listening to music, doing art projects, or reading. Using social media technologies to engage social with friends and family, eating a brain-healthy diet and physical exercise are also ways to help seniors with dementia live at home longer.

In early stage dementia care, the caregiver may need to provide simple memory assistance such as appointment reminders, organization, and money management along with regular home care services.

In middle stage dementia care, it is important for a person with dementia to follow a structured schedule to reduce the stress and anxiety. Individuals may also need increased assistance with dressing and feeding themselves.

In late stage dementia care, individuals typically need 24-hour care to cope with extreme confusion, inability to process information, and difficulty communicating verbally.

Visiting Angels Newton/Canton offers 24-hour home care as well as live-in and live-out homecare for the elderly with dementia. For more homecare information, please call 617-795-2727.