Multicultural Guide to Caregiving

Some caregivers are unaware of services out there or assume that the only option for care is in a nursing home or facility. That's not the case. A growing number of services and new policies are helping keep seniors in their own home as long as they can safely do so.

Caregivers may feel guilty for seeking support or fear judgement from family; but not securing the help can be detrimental for both the aging parent and caregiver's well-being. 

When a parent doesn't speak English well or has a strong preference for their traditional dishes, it can be difficult to find support that caters to their needs, but doing so isn't impossible.

Minority seniors, especially immigrants, seldom have the type of nest egg needed for retirement and elder care.

Their eligibility for U.S.-based health and social programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security can be confusing. Coupled with cultural traditions, adult children end up shouldering the financial burden and coordinating the seniors' care. 

Many first generation, middle-aged adults also have their own commitments, which may include student loans, a mortgage, childcare, or debt. After all, most of you may be the first to have gone to college, and many aren't sitting on a large pot of inheritance. That family wealth takes generations to build.

Time invested in exploring options for housing and living arrangements or enrolling seniors in benefits is critical to elder care. Doing so will go a long way to preventing your elder from becoming financially strapped or putting you in a difficult predicament.

Assessing your own financial and mental capacity to care for an aging parent is paramount to surviving this journey. Being honest about your limitations and securing your own financial matters first will help better gauge what's possible.

Keeping an open dialogue with your parent about their assets and care needs is also essential to mobilizing resources in a timely manner to prevent a catastrophic situation.