Whether mom is recovering from a stroke or just can’t remember to turn off the stove, you know she can no longer live independently. So what are your options when it comes to caring for an elderly parent?

There are a number of solutions for the care of the elderly. A common response is to place your family member in an assisted living or nursing facility. These can be good solutions for older people who require high levels of specialized care. However, caring for an elderly parent who needs less specialized care (occasional help with daily tasks, medication reminders, etc.) in a nursing community can be expensive and unnecessary.

Members of the sandwich generation, or those who care for both older parents and their own children, are turning to a more family-oriented care option: moving mom or dad into their own home.

Take a look at these 5 reasons why caring for an elderly parent at home is a happy elderly care solution.

1. Safety – The elderly, especially those who are frail, are vulnerable to dangers, from falls to criminal activity. Protecting yourself against these dangers makes moving mom and dad home not only one of the smartest solutions for caring for the elderly, but it also gives you peace of mind that you might not get when your parents live alone.

2. Medical attention: is dad eating? Is forgetting about mom getting worse? If your loved ones live independently or reside in a nursing home, it can be difficult to control their physical and mental health. Caring for an elderly parent at home allows you and other family members to take a closer look at the condition of mom or dad. When you move Mom home, you’ll get the peace of mind that comes from seeing firsthand how your parents are doing.

3. Family – Okay, caring for an elderly parent at home will not always be warm and confusing, but the fact is that living together can be satisfying for you, your parents, and especially your children. When your parents share a home with younger generations, it might even increase your thinking skills. Experts say that when an older person tells a detailed story, such as reliving the time they walked four miles through the snow to get to school, it can strengthen pathways in the brain, which could help keep dementia at bay and other cognitive problems.

4. Outside Help – Even if you plan to share your home with an elderly relative, your elder care solutions may include hiring outside help. For example, you can hire a trusted caregiver, sometimes called respite care, to sit with Grandpa for a few hours while the family enjoys a walk. Home caregivers are much easier to monitor than a nursing facility caregiver and allow you to be care-free 24/7. Home caregivers also provide the peace of mind that comes from being able to monitor how others are caring for your loved one.

5. Financial: With the average nursing facility stay costing more than $ 70,000 each year, caring for an elderly parent at home will make your family’s bank account happier, especially in an economy marked by high unemployment and lack of job security. The money you save now can be used to ensure funds are available if your family member ever needs full-time specialty medical care.

Caring for an elderly parent is difficult when your loved one is under the care of a nurse or lives independently. However, senior care solutions that include sharing your home with mom or dad can offer peace of mind that makes you and your loved one happier.