3 Elder Care Secrets Every Caregiver Needs to Know

In each state, there is a wide array of long term care facilities that elderly individuals can choose from—each one specializing in different types of care services. However, more and more older adults are looking into growing older in their own homes and communities.

However, aging in place, a trend that is rapidly becoming popular among older adults, requires more than just deciding to grow old at home. In many cases, an elderly individual would require the assistance of a family member—often an adult child—to be able to age in place successfully. As their health conditions or disabilities progress, their adult children—the family caregivers—begin to dedicate so much more than their time and effort, shouldering some if not all of the expenses.

The truth is that it can be taxing, and if you are caregiver reading this, then you should know that there are ways around this potentially disastrous situation. You can care for your loved one and yourself. To do so, we have compiled a few tidbits and secrets that are useful to the family caregivers:

Secret #1: You need to plan for your long term care.

As we all know, long term care services in the country could be financially crippling. The costs have reached the point where most elderly Americans can no longer afford the care that they need.

As family caregivers, you may be familiar with how difficult it can be to say no to a loved one need. However, this puts you in a jeopardizing position that could impact your own future. Caregiving can take a toll on a person physically, financially, emotionally, and mentally. In fact, studies show that dementia caregivers reported that their health has become worse because of their care responsibilities. So many then end up resorting to other unreliable means to support their care.

In order to avoid this situation from being your reality, you must start by planning for your own long term care needs even before the health issues begin. Consult with an insurance specialist first to do so effectively.

Secret #2: Caregiving is exhausting, stressful, and it can lead to abusive behavior.

Elder abuse comes in all shapes and forms. It can come from anyone, and without realizing or intending it, abuse may even come from you. Yes, elder care is not a walk in the park. It is exhausting, stressful, and absolutely frustrating. On some occasions, it can be too much for any caregiver. It may be in the form of a few harsh words or small acts of retaliation after a particularly nasty episode. It can come from you, whether you know it or not.

At the end of the day, it is still vital to do what you need to do to keep your well-being in place. Take breaks or ask for assistance if it gets too much. After all, no one should be subjected to elder abuse and family caregivers ensure that it never happens.

Secret #3: Youcan save a lot of money on tax deductions.

Did you know that family caregivers can qualify for tax deductions? However, there is a list of requirements that family caregivers must meet. For an in-depth discussion about the matter, refer to Long Term Care Tax Deductions.

Samantha Stein is an online content manager for ALTCP.org. Her works focus on key information on long term care insurance, financial planning, elder care, and retirement. In line with the organization’s goal, Samantha creates content that helps raise awareness on the importance of having comprehensive coverage, in the form of long term care insurance for elderly parents and younger individuals, for the good of the entire family.