Home care for yourself or an aging loved one is not on the foremost thoughts of most people until it becomes a necessity. At that point, the decisions made about care and support are made under a great deal of stress and without having the time to ask all of the questions you want or ensure the quality of care matches your needs. Along with the stress also comes misconceptions about home care, what it is and what it is not.
Our society emphasizes maintaining health, independence and youth – while aging is a natural part of life that we should embrace. People don’t want to age and view caregiving services for seniors as tethering that could affect their independence and freedom, or simply something that only “old people” need. In reality, in-home care for seniors is precisely the opposite. You see, it is not a four-letter word at all.
By looking into home care services before they are an absolute must, you have more time to explore your options, communicate your needs and decide what type of services are right for you. It is important to explore different home care services that can meet your individual needs. Use these 15 questions to ask a potential home care provider to ensure it is a trustworthy and capable agency. The time you allow yourself will also help you understand what in-home care is and how it provides an optimal level of support for seniors who want to stay in a familiar environment but get a little extra support with daily living tasks.
Once you identify potential concerns about your loved one, the second step is planning for the future. Here is something from high schoolers to consider: When high school students begin thinking about college, they start looking at schools they are interested in nearly two years before applying. So, why is this not the same for seniors planning for their Golden Years? Why don’t adult children prepare with Mom and Dad for the future? Think about it.
Maintain independence Longer
AARP reports that 76% of Americans over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes as long as possible. In-home care is a fantastic solution for seniors who may struggle with vision or hearing problems and mobility concerns. Instead of moving to an assisted living facility, aging adults can stay in their own homes and communities safely with in-home care. Consider home care as assisted living in your own home, and here are eight unthinkable reasons seniors should remain in their own homes.
Home care assists in many different areas to meet individual needs. Home care aides can provide transportation to and from doctor appointments, light housekeeping, assist with hygiene and personal care while providing companionship to those who aren’t able to socialize as much.
Some seniors don’t require as much support but might need some assistance to remain independent. In-home care is versatile to support those who need daily assistance and those who may only need help two or three times a week. That’s not a four-letter word in the traditional sense. It is more akin to the loving definition of the word “care.” Right?
Find the support you can trust
Home care aides are experienced in what they do and enjoy providing compassionate care for seniors to thrive. These caregivers are professionally trained and supported to provide the best service to their clients and want their clients to feel like they can trust them. Home care is where you will find compassionate aides who will listen to your needs and help you feel more comfortable and safer in your home.
Support for those who do not have family caregivers
Many seniors rely on family members to help them out around the house, run errands, make dinner, and remember doctor appointments. But there are many seniors who don’t have family members that they can lean on for that support. For those, home care services provide an enormous amount of support that they might not otherwise be able to find. Home care is not a four-letter word that needs to avoid – home care services can become a valuable and desired addition to a seniors’ life. Take time to learn more about how home care services can provide support, comfort, and strength to those who need it.
Home care is also an excellent way to bridge the inconvenience of a senior aging alone when their family or adult children live across the country. There’s a lot to be said about the welcomed communication between the home care agency and a senior’s adult children who may live 1,500 miles away. In some ways, for a far-away family, it’s like living next door because now they know how their loved one is doing every day from a professional and trusted third party. They don’t have to guess how their aging parents are doing or feel guilty for not being there.
Yes, home care is a four-letter word, LOVE.
