Putting elderly parents in nursing homes - Research Paper Example

Caring of elderly parent runs for an extensive period, and can threaten the physical and emotional health of caregivers and the implications of caregiving are not limited to the caregiver only. When the situation is beyond control of a caregiver or fails to get alternative arrangements from other siblings, they are forced to search for assisted living facility or nursing homes for attending their beloved ones. Since long term care may cause economic burden it is essential to prepare a future retirement plan in advance, and selecting an appropriate long-term care policy.

Generally siblings of aged parents are in a conflicting situation about placing their parent in a nursing home because of emotional attachments and apprehensions. With critical analysis of the functioning of various nursing homes, consultation with ‘elder law attorney’, and remembering that the role as caregiver will change but will not end once the care receiver is shifted to a nursing care facility is paramount in easing the burden of elderly caregivers. Everyone’s situation is different, and family relationships also have no exception, but all of us prefer a warm and loving family relationship, and thus would prefer to care for our elders in own home even if it is a distressing experience.

USA Today report that 34 million Americans serve as unpaid caregivers for other adults, usually elderly relatives, and that they spend an average 21 hours a week helping out, and the estimated economic impact of “free care” was about $350 billion in 2006, according to AARP study report. (Fetterman). Attending an elderly person with dementia, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or fall injury exerts extreme pressure on family members, and instruction of treating doctors that the patient need 24-hour care makes it more complicated for a caregiver.

Amongst these debilitating conditions it is estimated that “More than five million