Taking care of your elderly parent can be a challenge when you work full time and have active kids still living at home. It doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the day to get everything done. Fortunately, there are ways to get help caring for your parent so you still have time to tend to your other responsibilities too. Here are some of the options you may want to look into:

Home Care

Getting everyone up and out the door for school and work makes for a hectic time of day. Your parent may need extra care helping to bathe and eat, and shouldn't be rushed for safety reasons. Hiring home care for your parent is often the best solution. An assistant can come in each morning to help your parent get dressed and eat a nourishing meal at whatever pace your parent feels comfortable. Your parent can have company and supervision all day or just at times when you are most strained such as early morning and just after work. Home care involves supervision, mental stimulation, company, light medical care if needed, and help with activities of daily living.

Day Care

Another option to consider is senior day care. You can get your parent ready along with the rest of the family and take him or her to a facility that cares for seniors during the day much like a daycare facility for kids. The seniors are kept safe with their medical needs tended to and have access to meals and social activities. Your parent may love getting out of the house and socializing. This could be a good option if your parent is still mobile and healthy, but it just isn't safe for them to stay home alone.

Assisted Living

At some stage, an assisted living facility might be the best option. Your parent will have closer medical supervision in one of these senior care facilities. This could be important if your parent has a medical condition such as COPD and needs to take medication on a set schedule. An assisted living facility can also arrange transportation to doctor's appointments, and transport your parent in a wheelchair if necessary. Your parent will still have independence and be able to come and go as they please if they're still mobile.

Nursing Facility

If your parent becomes frail due to age or an illness, then a nursing facility might be the best place for proper care. It can be difficult to lift and transfer another person by yourself. Even if you have the time to devote to caring for your parent, it may not be safe for you to do so at home unless you have home health care around the clock. A nursing facility has patient lifts and other medical equipment that might be needed to make sure your parent is cared for safely and your parent will have quick access to nurses that handle medical emergencies.

In addition to these forms of senior care, your parent may be able to get help through Hospice or the Alzheimer's Association if they have a qualifying medical condition. Start by talking with your doctor to see what kind of care is available in your community and what insurance typically covers so you can start thinking in advance of how you'll care for your parent as he or she ages or has a gradual decline in health.

Contact a company like Paramount Parks At Eagle for more information and assistance.