How Do You Know When It’s Time to Put a Loved One in Long-Term Care?

It’s unpleasant to think about: the idea that you may need to get long-term care, such as a nursing home, for a spouse, parent, grandparent, or other loved one. You want your family member to be independent for as long as possible, comfortable in their home. And you may feel a host of emotions, from confusion to guilt, about the decision.

But as much as you may not want it, sometimes a facility is the best care option for a loved one. Here are some signs that your family member may be best served by being placed in long-term care.

Signs That Your Loved One Needs Professional Care

They have advanced dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Their ability to care for themselves will decline as the disease advances. They can pose a danger to themselves or others. For example, they may leave gas stoves lit and untended, or leave home frequently and forget how to get back.

Their physical health noticeably declines. Your loved one may experience rapid weight loss or long-term insomnia. They may fall more or have bruises they can’t explain how they got. They may suffer mobility loss and be unable to get around the home. They may become incontinent.

They cannot take care of daily living activities. They can no longer do daily activities of self-care, such as eating, bathing or showering, or dressing themselves.

They don’t take their medications. They may have too many medications to manage on their own, or they may forget to take them.

They have no social life. Isolation can worsen their condition, causing depression.

The above examples focus on your loved one, but another important factor is the caregiver. If that’s you, you may feel burned out. You may find that the rest of your life seems to be slipping away—that you have no time left for anything but taking care of your loved one. You may have depression or insomnia. If you feel like the situation is out of control, it may be time to seek help.

How to Find Long-Term Care

We do not have the space in this article for an in-depth look at finding the proper care facility for your family member, but the internet has many excellent resources to get you started. Articles we have found helpful include:

State resources are available to help ease the process. For example, you can check with your state for a facility inspection records. In California, the Department of Social Services manages an online facility search page. You can check to ensure the care center is licensed and view citations, complaints, and other important information.

Final Thoughts

Your decision isn’t an easy one, and you may find clarity by talking with an objective friend or a therapist. If you’re worried how you can pay for long-term care and still meet your other financial needs, you may want to talk to a fiduciary financial advisor. The right advisor can help assess goals and needs (both your loved one’s and your own), income sources, and expenses and create a realistic financial plan to move forward.

Schedule a complimentary, 15-minute call with a financial advisor today to discuss your personal situation.

This material was prepared by Kaleido Inc. from information derived from sources believed to be accurate. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice.

Parkshore Wealth Management is a family-owned, independent, fee-only Registered Investment Advisor serving the greater Sacramento area with an office in Roseville, CA. We partner with financially responsible individuals and families who are eager to take positive steps that will allow them to use their money to build the life they desire. The firm is led by Harold Anderson, CFP®, and Daniel Andersen, CFP®, both members of NAPFA, the country’s leading professional association of fee-only financial advisors.

Financial PlanningParkshore Wealth ManagementLong-Term Care, Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, ADLs