Aging in Place: Creating a Caregiver Plan

Last month we kicked off our Aging in Place blog series with the question “Is Aging in Place a Good Fit for My Loved One?” Now that you’ve determined that aging in place would be beneficial for the senior in your life, you may be wondering what the next steps are.



The first thing you should do is create a caregiver plan that will outline what type of help is needed and who would be best suited to provide assistance. But how?

Begin with Honest Communication

If possible, get everyone involved in making decisions in the same room. The last thing you want to do is to make decisions without consulting the person your choices will impact the most. We understand that broaching these topics may be difficult with a parent, so if you need tips on how to effectively communicate with your aging loved ones about sensitive topics check out our recent blog post.

What tasks does your loved one find difficult or need assistance with? What are your concerns for them? Answering these questions will help you determine the level of support that will fit your unique situation.

Be sure to stay on topic when having this discussion and understand that it is difficult for seniors to admit they can no longer be as independent as they once were. Empathize with their situation and assure them that you’re in it with them to figure out the best solution.

Next, Assemble Your Team

To start, draft up a list of family, friends and neighbors that may be able to help out. It is natural to want to help as much as possible, but it’s important to keep in mind that caregiving can be a time-consuming and challenging thing to do. Don’t over-commit yourself as this can quickly lead to burnout.

Finally, Establish a Plan

You’ll want to match each area that your loved one needs support with a member of the team you assembled in step number 2. Identify areas where you will need additional support and seek out additional caregiving options.

Adding a home health aide to your team can be incredibly beneficial. Not only will they be an extra member of your team, but they also have experience working with people in similar situations and can help you navigate challenging and stressful situations.

Final Thoughts

We hope that this article has given you some insight on how to help your loved one age in place with support. Creating a Caregiver Plan can be challenging, especially if you don’t have many family members who are able to offer assistance.

If you need help creating a caregiver plan, or if you think a home health aide would make a great addition to your team (we agree!), give us a call at 610-365-4099. Our experienced team members are here to help.

Over the next few months we will continue to explore Aging in Place and our tips for how to make this next step in your loved one’s life as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Next month we will be covering “Home Renovations to Consider.” Check back for updates!