Aging at home has become a buzz word. And that is understandable because this arrangement has strong selling points: Elders receive personalized attention.

However, unless it isnn accomplished by careful repercussions, it can have disastrous repercussions for all involved. How can families avoid becoming untangled in this unpleasantness?

Well, there are no easy answers to these questions. But there are guidelines they might consider before they make any decisions they might come to regret. And this “take a
hard” look process might begin with their coming to understand that they cannot isolate themselves.

The commitment family members are undertaking when they keep an elder in her residence is far too overwhelming for any one person to handle on their own.

So, they must have a backup – a sibling, a friend, whomever – who can bolster their efforts. Unless they have this support, they might inadvertently make a “bad” situation worse.

For example, if their elder is feeling weak one day, being unwilling or unable
to eat, they might become alarmed and rush her to the hospital.

However, if they called their back up before taking that “drastic” step, they might be cautioned to wait a day and see if her condition improves on its own.

Following this advice mght allow both of them to slide through her “illness” without facing the stress endemic to an emergency room visit.

And working with a back up is only one bit of advice care givers should consider.

For more information about these matters check out Rounding the Circle of Love: Growing Up As She Grows Old.