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" If you&amp;#039;ve recently recognized certain warning signs, and come to the conclusion that your loved one needs extra help, it&amp;#039;s time to get proactive. Follow these steps to move toward making the right decision.  1. Start researching. Visit websites such as Caregiver.org and TheFamilyCaregiver.org to get a better sense of what caregiving entails and what the options are. &amp;quot;Doing the initial research to get started will help you get a better sense of what&amp;#039;s out there as you move forward,&amp;quot; says Kathleen Kelly, executive director of the Family Caregiver Alliance.   2. Weigh the options. Basically, you have three main choices:   1. Move your loved one into your home or a family member&amp;#039;s home. 2. Allow him or her to remain at home and hire help (you can find a geriatric care manager in your area at CareManager.org). 3. Move him or her into a retirement home.   Each situation and family is unique in terms of what is best. The costs can greatly differ depending on your location and what you choose, so it&amp;#039;s important to compare multiple options along with cost estimates.   3. Talk with someone in the know. Figuring out which route to take can be difficult, so it helps to meet with an expert for guidance, recommends Kelly. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to talk with someone who can advise you and notify you of specific community opportunities (some sites offer free or low-cost assistance programs). Beyond experts, sometimes the greatest help can come from those who have been there. If you&amp;#039;re considering a retirement home or assisted living facility, talk to the people who are already living there as well as their family members. If you&amp;#039;re looking into hiring a geriatric care manager, get at least three references and make sure to speak with each one of them.   4. Hold a family meeting. Once you have settled on an option, sit down with the rest of your immediate family to discuss the changes and how this will affect the household. If Grandma is moving into the upstairs bedroom, explain to your kids how this might change day-to-day life. 5. Talk with the loved one. This is perhaps one of the hardest subjects to broach, but having an open conversation at the beginning of this process will curb potential problems down the road. Approach all conversations from the &amp;quot;I&amp;quot; perspective and let him or her know you are coming from a place of love and concern. Be sensitive and mindful of your loved one&amp;#039;s feelings; think about how you would feel if you were in the other person&amp;#039;s shoes. Remember, no one ever wants to move out of his or her home, so approach the issue delicately. It may be a good idea to have your loved one speak with a therapist, join a support group or get together with a trusted friend to talk about his or her emotions openly and honestly.   For more insight into caring for elderly family members, visit our Designated Daughter blog. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/relationships/family-friends/a4928/wds-guide-to-caregiving-first-steps-108359/>