Written By Amber Bowman
When an aging family member is having trouble with daily tasks such as doing laundry, cooking, and routine day to day things we all take for granted, it may be time to think about homecare or a type of assisted living. This can but doesn’t have to be a challenging decision. If you find yourself contemplating if this is the next step for your loved one, below are a few ways in which these options can work with you and your family to make your lives easier.
Living independently
Both homecare and assisted living facilities provide non medical care. Such care includes help with tasks of everyday living from trained caregivers instead of doctors and nurses. This can be anything from companionship, moving safely around the house, personal hygiene, and even help sorting mail and bills. The care is customized for a loved one’s specific needs.
A homecare agency takes time to find the right caregiver for your family and manages scheduling so you don’t have to. The one on one time with the caregiver and client usually turns into a special relationship- like welcoming another trusted family member into your home. The main priorities are that the senior stays healthy and safe while continuing to live independently. In assisted living facilities they add to safety by equipping bathrooms with handrails and seats, having wider doorways, and replacing stairs with ramps. If you have the means, it’s easy to make these changes at home.
Frequency of care
Are you responsible for checking on your family member each day making it hard to juggle your own life? Do they need help every morning with medication management? Do they need a few days a week to replenish groceries? Or do they require 24/7 care?
At-home caregivers can be scheduled daily, weekly, or monthly depending on the needed care and can help the mental and physical load of family caregivers with respite care. For instance, If your mom prefers to age at home and can do many things on her own but is unable to upkeep the house or is too exhausted to cook as much, a helping hand a few days a week may be all she needs! Care in assisted living takes away the worry of keeping a house but may not be as comforting as the routines and familiarity of the house they spent years in.
Companionship
If your loved one is in need of more companionship this need can be filled through the relationship formed with a caregiver. A strong relationship is built with lots of one on one time with the same caregiver. This makes it easier for the caregiver to learn the specific needs of the client and helps them cater to those needs. Some assisted living facilities have staff that tend to multiple people throughout the day so it could be harder to form a close relationship. Assisted living facilities have social groups and community living but this does expose you to more colds and germs which could be a deterrent for an aging family member.
Financial Options
If the client doesn’t need full time care then it may be more affordable to start with at home care a few hours or days a week. It’s easy to cut back or add hours as your family adjusts to having the extra help. In assisted living it can be a big adjustment and more difficult to change once already in the facility.
All in all, the introduction to homecare can be a gradual and stress free process. Your loved one can keep their independence and your mind can be at ease knowing your family is in safe and caring hands. Whether it’s aging in place with a caregiver or in an assisted living facility, the client will be well taken care of and continue to age smoothly. For more information give Synergy a call for a free consultation!
