Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Certified Senior Advisor and Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. My mother started having anxiety and had to be hospitalized for this. She is 82 and I have noticed she is not āherselfā since the anxiety surfaced in her life. She lives alone and Iād like to have her move in with me, but Iām not sure this is the best thing for me and my family. I need suggestions on how to help her.
A. Anxiety is a difficult thing to deal with. Itās very real, yet sometimes we donāt really understand it. Finding ways to ease her anxiety is something her doctor will help you with. Itās very important to have good communication with her care team, and it can be a balancing act. While you navigate this with her care team, it is important to ensure you have the support and energy to be the caregiver you want to be. With that in mind, if your mom does move in with you, I recommend that you create a plan of support with your family and friends and even join a caregiver support group. It is important to be realistic about what it would look like if your mother moved in with you. Could you manage her care? How would you care for your familyās needs alongside hers? What would you do to make sure you are rested and able to āgiveā? Your support system will be important and the sooner you implement it, the better your chances are to avoid caregiver burnout. Reach out to other family members, friends, senior services, or even a local church ministry. A professional caregiver can also be a vital part of your care team. Iāve seen caregivers pour new life into families as they take on some of the responsibilities while providing rest to a family. Itās definitely something to think about!
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
