In an AARP survey of American seniors, 90% said they want to continue living in their homes as they grow older. Remaining in the home may make sense for some families, but it’s not practical for everyone. That said, there are still ways to prolong the length of time your loved one can stay in their home. With the flexibility of senior home care, you can get your parent the help they need to remain independent.
We recommend reviewing the guide called There’s No Place Like Home – For Growing Older. It’s brought to you by the National Institute on Aging. The guide covers a lot of good points and encourages you to think creatively about the ways that Mom or Dad can live at home in a safe, practical and cost effective manner.
We’ve put together a short outline of this guide and what you can expect.
What kind of help can you get?
Help comes in many forms. In-home Senior Home Care is flexible, allowing you to pick and choose what your loved one needs. Below are the types of help available.
- Personal Home Care like bathing and dressing
- Household chores and maintenance
- Meal preparation and companionship
- Managing money and paying bills
- Health care assistance such as post-surgery care
- Medication reminders and management
What types of products can you purchase?
Technology opens up many new opportunities for seniors living at home. Take advantage of the various products available to make your life easier and your loved one’s life safer.
- Personal emergency alert systems
- Mobility aids and companions
- Transportation systems and apps (Lyft, Uber)
- Safety modifications made to the home
- Social media to stay in contact with friends and family
Where can you look for help?
Start with your personal circle of family, friends and neighbors. You may be able to assign small tasks to these individuals. After that, consider the following resources:
- Live-in caregivers “live” in your home during the week and provides routine care throughout the day.
- Companions visit your loved one throughout the week to offer services such as meal preparation, medication reminders and light housekeeping.
- Respite care offers breaks to caregivers on a regular or as-needed basis. Use respite services when you’re feeling overwhelmed or need more time in your schedule.
- Skilled nurses provide a high level of care to seniors who need more intense services such as wound care or IVs.
These services are available from the government or private service providers such as Family Private Care. To learn more about how our agency is helping more families fulfill their wishes of living at home, call us today.