(car horns honking)
I've been making this drive
for about a year and a half now
every other day.
My parents are the best parents in the world.
They have been married 69 years.
Once I finish work I drive 40 miles
to take care of my parents.
We made it.
My parents are having a difficult time
doing basic things,
and too proud to ask for help.
You know you need to eat,
what are you gonna have for dinner?
Bill has really stepped up,
so watching him do this
and taking care of our kids,
it's a tough situation.
It's stressful, it's tiring.
I feel like I'm being spread very thin,
and I do what I can.
So I'm gonna head on back home.
Okay.
We want them together.
They remember each other together.
The idea is to keep my parents in their home,
but when I'm not there it does worry us all the time.
Well, Billy, Heidi, thank you both
for being here.
And Bill, you mentioned
that your 92 year old father makes sure
your 93-year-old mom is taking her meds
and prepares their meals.
So are you concerned that it's taking a toll on him?
Well, Dr. Phil, my dad has had a few health issues
himself lately,
but he's been doing okay right now.
I'm always worrying about them when I'm not there.
And of course when the pandemic hit
my concerns grew even more.
Heidi, Bill's parents refuse to move
to a nursing facility,
and you support their decision actually, why?
Our parents have lived independently
in their home for over 60 years,
and a move would be extremely stressful.
The familiarity is so important at that age too.
The stress level is so much lower.
And joining us now is Lakelyn Hogan,
gerontologist and spokesperson for Home Instead.
Lakelyn so many families
are facing similar situations
of caring for aging parents
who wanna stay in their home
while raising a family and working.
What would you suggest?
Well first of all, Bill and Heidi,
I commend you for all that you have done
to keep Bill's parents in their home.
We know that care givers,
they really need to take regular breaks,
that's so, so important.
And while certainly admirable,
caring for aging parents can really be stressful
for the whole family,
there's no question about that, right?
Oh absolutely.
We know that caregivers can experience depression,
and sometimes even resentment
because of the added responsibilities.
And the whole family can suffer.
It can impact relationships between spouses
and their own children.
Well so tell us how Home Instead
can possibly help someone like Bill and Heidi
who are caught in that very situation.
At Home Instead we provide in-home services
that include personal care,
hospice support,
and Alzheimer's and dementia care
that help older adults remain at home,
and also provide peace of mind for caregivers like Bill.
And during this pandemic,
we are strictly following protocols
recommended by the CDC
and local health authorities
to ensure their clients
and caregivers are safe.
Studies show us that 90% of older adults
want to remain in their homes as they age.
And at Home Instead, we're giving them the opportunity
to do just that.
Does Home Instead sound like a service
your family could benefit from?
Without a doubt, Dr. Phil.
Home Instead would be a godsend for our family.
Knowing that there's somebody there
to help them with their daily needs
would definitely give me peace of mind.
It would also give me time to spend more time
with my family.
And when the weekends come around,
I would be able to really enjoy the time
I get to spend with my parents
knowing that they're really taken care of.
Right, of course.
It takes pressure off of you guys.
Lakelyn, is Home Instead available
around the country?
Yes.
We have over 1100 offices in all 50 states,
across Canada and 12 other countries.
And Bill, I have a gift for you
and your parents.
For the next six months,
we'll be sending a professionally trained
Home Instead caregiver to your parents' home
to care and support them.
Oh my gosh.
Thank you.
That's a breather, right?
It certainly is.
Lakelyn, that's very, very kind.
For anyone looking for assistance
with an aging parent living at their home,
or yours, you just must go to homeinstead.com.
You don't have to handle it
all on your own when you can have Home Instead professionals
give you a much needed hand.
It can really take pressure off of you
and off of them.
It can make a huge difference, trust me, I know.