What to do when caregiving ends?
Caregiving is at once a challenging and rewarding experience. But, what do you do when it comes to an end? Whether because of death or moving your loved one to long-term care, no longer having the responsibility of caring for your elder can lead to heavy feelings of loss. While each caregiver copes as best as he or she can, there’s no secret formula for success when caregiving comes to an end.
It took me more than a few months to get used to the emptiness I felt at home after having cared for Mom full-time, for more than 3 years. Initially, my nursing home visits felt as if time stood still. Our conversations were not the same due to her dementia. I felt as if I had lost my life-long best friend. In some ways, it still feels that way, although I have long since adapted to the rhythm and flow of nursing home visits.
I regularly enjoy lively conversations with my mother who has dementia and resides in a nursing home. Some may say lively conversation is impossible with someone who has with dementia or Alzheimer’s. I say all things are possible when it comes to creativity in communication. If you try, you may even have fun conversing with your elder.
Just as it takes elder time to get used to living in a nursing home, it also takes more than a little time for a former caregiver to get used to the nursing home. That’s what is happening today, now that we’ve moved mom into a nursing home.
Are you ready to support your aging parents? If you are, there are things you need to be looking at sooner, rather than later. One primary area of concern? Long-term care insurance. Do your parents already have a long-term care insurance policy? What will it mean to you and your parents financially, if they do not have a long-term care insurance policy? The shortfall in long-term nursing care has to come from somewhere. Out-of-pocket costs can be unsettling and continue to increase each year.