Caring for Aging Parents? Where to Find Help

As your parents age, are you worried about their safety living on their own, or your ability to physically care for them while trying to maintain your family, work and social life?

It's a problem faced by more than 26 million Americans who care for elderly parents, relatives or friends, and many don't know where to turn to for help. Take the case of Beverly, whose mother started developing short-term memory loss.

At first, Beverly considered it a normal, though unfortunate, part of growing older. But as the weeks and months progressed, her mom's memory loss worsened. "My father would bring it up with me," she says. "He would say, 'Mom's losing her memory. She can't focus on anything. It's getting really difficult.'"

Eventually, Beverly decided to begin the search for an assisted living home for her mom, and a nearby apartment for her dad. "I looked in the Yellow Pages, drove around to a few places, but nothing seemed like something we'd be happy with. It felt like [trying to find] a needle in a haystack."

Like so many thousands of confused and overwhelmed care-seekers, Beverly contacted A Place For Mom, a free eldercare referral service.

Beverly was then connected to Maggie, an Eldercare Advisor. "It was like all of a sudden someone was going to listen and help me find a solution," says Beverly.

Maggie helped Beverly narrow down her search to senior housing properties where her mother could be cared for 24 hours a day, while her father could live nearby and remain independent.

"When we talked on the phone, I could tell she was stressed," says the Eldercare Advisor. "She knew what she was looking for, but didn't know how to find it or where to start. I told her, 'I can save you valuable time and stress.'"

Maggie referred Beverly to a place that met both parents' needs. For her mother, Beverly chose an assisted living home that offered specialized dementia care. And just across the lawn was a senior apartment community perfect for her father. When Beverly brought him to tour both facilities, she saw something she hadn't in a long time -- his smile. "This is perfect -- exactly what we want," her father says. "I love it; let's do this."

The couple moved in to their new homes in April, 2006, and Beverly takes comfort in knowing they are safe -- and happy.

"A Place For Mom was absolutely amazing. It was the best thing for everyone," she says. "Don't be afraid to ask for help. Know that it will get better. When you're in the middle of it, it can be so overwhelming. But, with the right help, it can -- and does -- get better."


Save time and energy researching options for your parent's care. Visit www.aplaceformom.com to find the programs and homes near you with background information on their specialties. Copyright ©, ARAnet, Inc.