Are You the Main Caregiver for an Elderly Family Member?

If you are the main caregiver for an elderly family member who requires help with the activities of daily living (ADLs), it may be the job is becoming too much for you.  The Nov/Dec issue of Today’s Geriatric Medicine cites a study by the “National Alliance for Caregiving and Caring Across Generations,” which states that more than 11 million American adults are considered sandwich generation caregivers and bear the responsibility of simultaneously caring for their children as well as an aging family member.  In total it is believed there are approximately 40.4 million unpaid caregivers for adults 65 years and older in the United States consisting of adult children, spouses, relatives or friends.  In addition, 61 percent of those caregivers are employed, including nearly half who work full-time and juggle their own family responsibilities.    

While for most, caregiving is a labor of love but there is no denying it can be challenging.  Whether you are an adult child with your own children, a spouse, or another relative, you may feel it is time to ask for help.  This decision may lead you to an assisted living community where mom or dad will receive all the care they need and you can go back to being their loving child.  If you are a spouse who has been responsible for the caregiving duties, senior living communities such as MorningStar of Albuquerque warmly welcome married couples to live together in their own suite, surrounded by their own treasured possessions. 

We are pleased to give residents and their families peace of mind knowing that trained care managers are there to help navigate changes in health, and that transportation is available for doctor visits and other errands.  It is also a relief to know mom or dad will have nutritional, daily meals prepared by our own Executive Chef, built-in companionship, and the comfort of knowing someone is always around to lend a hand if needed.  

In addition, MorningStar of Albuquerque has a team of caregivers who feel it is a privilege to serve seniors and understand that residents deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  Our community has 48 suites for assisted living and 21 secure suites devoted to the individualized care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  If you are looking for outstanding memory care or assisted living, Albuquerque’s MorningStar community encourages you to contact us for more information about our beautiful home.  

MorningStar of Albuquerque’s mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living options. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we provide the finest memory care and assisted living Albuquerque, NM has to offer.

Sources: 

viewer.zmags.com/publication/d04ca42b#/d04ca42b/9

pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/18/5-facts-about-family-caregivers/