Life is full of monumental stages, and one of the most critically important stages to demystify, unpack, and break down a bit more so it becomes easier to fully grasp, is senior care. For far too long, the world of senior in-home care and home care assistance has been full of jargon, over-promises, and upsells, and there simply has not been enough vital information shared with families, loved ones, and caregivers. In this article, we are going to get to the root of in-home care for seniors, so that you can plan ahead for the future, take advantage of what you have learned right now, or make a move to change your loved one’s current living conditions.
You should not feel embarrassed or overwhelmed by what you didn’t know before – instead, embrace the insight that we’re about to provide you and stand tall knowing that you have the right pieces to put the puzzle of home care assistance and senior home care together.
Elderly care, which is often referred to as “eldercare” or “senior care,” is essentially a service designed to provide special needs, basic living accommodations, and daily or routine support to senior citizens – this can include in-home care services, and other outside services such as assisted living, adult day care, nursing home care, hospice care, and even long-term care.
As a broad term, elderly care is something that will come up at some point in virtually everyone’s life – whether it is being applied to a friend or loved one, or to yourself. With that said, it is important to remember that elderly care is a blanket term that encompasses a wide ranging level of service and support.
What works for one person, might not be what another individual requires. Someone might require elderly care at an earlier age than another due to health issues, or perhaps someone lost a spouse and is having a hard time adjusting to life on their own as a senior citizen. Circumstances change, and the unique situations that we face in our lives could go on to dictate the type of elderly care that we actually require.
Speaking of those circumstances and unique situations, let’s take a deep dive into the different types of elderly care scenarios that one might find themselves in when addressing the needs of a loved one.
Adult day care is just like the phrase says – it is precisely a day care service for adults and senior citizens. This type of service is most likely going to be geared toward someone who can still care for themselves generally, but may require extra assistance, support, and supervision throughout the day. Typically, adult day care services and day care programs are provided in-house, meaning that a trained caregiver and eldercare specialist will travel to the client’s home and provide supervision on a routine and structured schedule.
While this could be considered a form of in-home care simply because the client in this scenario is considered independent – even if they live independently in their own unit within elderly care or senior care facility – this is a bit different from the standard in-home care that we are really looking to address in this article. Independent living facilities are essentially apartment/condominium complexes specifically designed for senior living. These facilities allow residents to rent or purchase a unit, where they can live their own lives independently, but with some added care, support, and attention.
This is not to be confused with an assisted living facility. Assisted living is a bit more comprehensive, and it provides routine care, support, and medical attention. Independent living is much more hands-off, and oftentimes, check-ins and supervision require special plans and packages.
Traditional in-home care can encompass a wide range of living conditions and scenarios. For instance, in-home care could be as simple as moving your family member or loved one into your home, so that you can provide care, supervision, and medical attention for them whenever necessary.
On the other hand, in-home care can also involve a scenario in which your loved one remains in their home, and an in-home assistant is hired to provide care and supervision. The aide could be a live-in aide, or they could simply come and go throughout the day/week based on a structured schedule.
Additionally, you can work with an in-home care agency to coordinate or refer an aide. Different agencies can offer both nursing and non-nursing options. A nursing specialist, though usually more expensive, would be able to offer medical support for a loved one who requires it on a daily basis. Again, depending on your own circumstances and those of your loved one, there is always an option out there for you to choose from.
With that in mind, let us now talk about some of the benefits that come along with in-home care.
Oftentimes, one of the biggest worries that we hear about from family members of seniors include the risk of injury. When our loved ones are home alone, safety concerns are always something to consider – especially if they struggle with ordinary age-related problems like joint pain, inflammation, a lack of mobility, etc. Additionally, those who have recently undergone surgery or who have been hospitalized for a medical illness are at an increased risk of injury.
With an in-home care specialist making regular and routine visits to your loved one, you can feel better knowing that they have the supervision needed to not only enhance their lives but to reduce the risk of injury or medical emergency.
Additionally, in-home care provides your loved one with someone to talk to and spend time with throughout the day. After all, we simply cannot be there all the time – but knowing that someone else whom you trust is able to be there makes a world of difference.
Going back to that idea that we cannot simply be there for our loved ones all of the time is critically important. In-home care is designed to provide peace of mind to loved ones and family members, just as much as it is designed to provide care and support to seniors and those living alone.
When you choose the right in-home care agency to work with, you can address all of your concerns, needs, and preferences all at once, ensuring that the professional you hire to care for your loved one is the right one. Peace of mind is priceless when it comes to your loved ones, and in-home care is designed to provide it.
Another big benefit of in-home care revolves around the fact that it can often comes with hospital-level support, which means that your loved one will have constant and consistent monitoring to determine their vitals, their mental capacities, and their overall strength.
It is never easy to make the choice to hire an in-home care specialist for your loved one. However, it is important to remember and to remind your loved one, that in-home care does not take away their independence. In fact, it enhances it, protects it, and it ensures that they can remain independent well into the future.
There are a number of factors that one might consider when determining if in-home care is the proper route or not. For instance, if your loved one is struggling with emotional problems like social withdrawal, loneliness, personality changes, or depression, it might be time to boost their spirits with someone who can provide them with the right level of support to get back on their feet.
Additionally, cognitive problems like confusion and memory loss, along with physical problems that revolve around stability, balance, and sensory issues are all worthy reasons for why one might want to consider in-home care.
Again, everyone is different – and what might be a red flag for one family might not be for another. The key is to know your loved one better than anyone else. Watch out for signs, monitor them on a regular basis, and gauge their interest in it before you decide to make the call.
It is their life too, and they should be able to have a say – or at least some knowledge into how you plan to support them later on in life.
When you think it is time to learn more about in-home care, you can reach out to our team here at 1plus1cares.com. We are always standing at the ready to provide family members and caregivers with all of the information they require to make the right decision for their family and their loved ones.
Contact us today to learn more about in-home care.
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