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Looking after an older parent comes with numerous considerations and concerns. As we get older, we are put in a position where we feel a variety of conflicting emotions. Here are some of the practical challenges that you should consider when you are taking on this role. 

Putting Them in a Home or Not

Some people believe this is the best place for older parents because they have a wider range of care available, but there are others who don't want their parents to go into a nursing home because of the potential for nursing home abuse, which is a very natural concern. For anybody who's experienced some form of nursing home abuse, it's important to recognize there is support out there, like legal help. There are lawyers that work for a contingency fee, where they will only get paid if you get a favorable result, but to offset any of these concerns, you have to come to a conclusion with your parents that the nursing home is the best option. 

Helping Your Parents Stay Independent

If they don't want to go into a nursing home, you've got to decide together on the best course of action to help them stay independent. Many older people resist losing their independence, which could mean they end up putting others or themselves in danger because they can't manage everyday tasks. It's critical that we have honest conversations so we can understand their feelings about the care options available. You could come to a conclusion that they have part-time care, for example, a nursing assistant coming in and doing the basic house duties. This helps them achieve a certain level of independence and it allows you to have more peace of mind. 

The Health Issues

If a parent has health issues that cause aggression or behaving unpredictably, like age-related cognitive decline, this can be difficult to deal with. It's important for us to remember that this is not who they are because their behavior is beyond their control. But there are a number of strategies to cope with difficult behavior, and it's vital that we not take it to heart because this is not who they are. 

Understanding the Financial Implications

There will be an added cost to caring for your parents in terms of the nursing home fees or if you need to adapt your own home to look after them. It's important to ensure that everybody is financially supported which can be difficult to achieve. 

Looking After Yourself

Plenty of people who envision working from home don't consider the fact that they have to manage all of this noise around their clients and their children. It's not an easy thing to do, but it can't be done especially if you have custom wood sheds built in your garden to create your very own backyard office. It doesn't matter whether or not you are running your own business or if you are working from home for another company, you deserve a special space for you to flourish. Just because you're working from home doesn't mean your career has to suffer, so here are some of the reasons you should invest in your very own garden office.

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• You get your time back. It doesn't matter how long your commute is, working from home gives you back your time. Anytime where you are not sitting in traffic or working your way through public transport is time well spent. When you are having your working day in your garden, all you have to do is open the backyard door and head outside. It's an easy way to get to work, and is going to help you to spend more time with your family than on the road.

• You're going to save money. The initial outlay of an outside office in your garden is going to cost you some money we're not going to lie, but it's going to be so worth it when you realize that this amount of money you spend is going to save you hundreds if not thousands throughout the year on petrol, toll roads, parking, public transport and more. The initial investment is also going to help you to add value to your property, so really you're building something for it to pay you back later.

• Your space is your own. This is somebody else you could dress as you wish, it's how you like, take breaks and get your drinks when you want to, and the space is your very own. Collaborative workspaces are nice and everything, but when you have to share space with somebody else in the capital it is quite uncomfortable. This way, you get to quietly unpack your space and play your music or work in any way that suits you and nobody can tell you different.

• You will improve your productivity. Knowing that your family is simply a few steps away is going to help you to remain productive. You know that once your working day is done 2 minutes later you're going to be with the family and having fun instead of spending all of your time missing out on bedtimes and sitting in traffic. In office gives you the chance to be able to interact with your family throughout the day, too, so when you have lunch breaks you can take the kids out to the park, or you can simply just spend time with your partner.