As our family members age, we may find they need more help with daily activities that were once easy for them, like laundry and preparing meals. When this time arrives, it can be a challenging reality for the ones you care about. Maintaining independence is often very important to older adults, and it can be difficult for them to accept help. Home care can be an excellent option in this situation. If the one you care about needs help with daily activities, but is not yet ready for assisted living, home care can provide them with the assistance they need in the comfort of their own home.
When exploring home care options, there are many things to consider. We created this guide to help you understand important details of non-medical home care, and select the right home care provider. Here’s what you need to know:
Who benefits from home care
Home care is available as a resource to anyone who needs assistance with daily activities, but wishes to remain in their own home. Home care providers are able to serve people who may be:
- Recovering from injury or illness
- Pregnant, with mobility restrictions
- Needing respite after travel
- Recovering from a hospital visit
- Living with a disability
- Elderly and unable to manage alone
- In need of end-of-life support
- Experiencing temporary or long-term needs
The benefits of in-home care
The key benefit of in-home care is that your family member can receive the extra care they need while living in the comfort of their own home. This can go a long way in helping older adults maintain their independence and quality of life. And because home care is one-on-one, caregivers can provide customized assistance unique to the recipient.
Home care services
Non-medical home care workers can provide a wide range of services that can be helpful to individuals who need help with daily activities. Non-medical homemaker services include help with personal grooming (such as bathing or getting dressed), mobility (getting in and out of bed, or the shower), cognitive exercises (playing games, engaging in conversation), errands (grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions), and housework (laundry, light cleaning, and meal preparation). Home caregivers can also provide verbal cues for people who need help with medication management, or help a person with Alzheimer’s or Dementia by grounding and orienting them.
Things to consider: Cost and caregiver training & qualifications
When you start looking at different providers, be sure to ask them about cost of care, payment methods, caregiver training, and qualifications. Home care is still largely unregulated, so look for programs that have high standards for their caregivers. Look at training requirements for caregivers, as well as background checks, medication management, and CPR certification. Are the caregivers licensed to provide the level of care needed? Is training provided on a continual basis? All home care workers should meet the same requirements as assisted living care workers. Providers should also help you navigate private insurance and Medicare.
If the one you care about needs more than four hours of service per day, or needs care at night, you may want to consider assisted living. While assisted living does not offer the convenience of staying at home, it can be more cost-effective for those who need a higher level of care.
Reducing the isolation of aging
Studies have shown that our social network shrinks as we age, and that this can have an impact on the health and well being of older adults. Home care can help minimize the isolation associated with aging by pairing your parent or family member with a skilled caregiver who will not only help them with daily activities, but can also help keep you informed of their health and well being.
Get in touch today to learn more by calling (505) 865-8813.
