Today’s seniors are living longer than ever, but as people get older, they may start to need assistance with some or all of their daily tasks. Previous generations of seniors lived in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, but today’s seniors want to age in place for as long as possible. Who could blame them? Home is the most comfortable place to live, and the familiar surroundings and independence keeps their quality of life as high as possible.
If your loved one has decided to age in place, you may want to help them as much as possible with their daily tasks. But, with your busy job, it’s hard to be there for your loved one during the day. With in home health care, your loved one can get the care they need. Here are three in home health care options that may be right for your loved one.
1. Companionship Care
Does your loved one live alone? Living alone can be difficult for seniors, especially if they’re no longer working. Even if you visit as often as you can, your loved one will be spending a lot of hours alone while you’re at work. With little social interaction, people can become lonely, and lonely people tend to push others away, which leads to further isolation. If your loved one is starting to become grumpy or unpleasant to be around during your visits, this may be what’s happening.
Loneliness isn’t just an uncomfortable feeling; it’s been linked to serious health effects. Lonely elderly people are more susceptible to a variety of illnesses, including dementia. They also have higher mortality rates than peers who aren’t lonely. For these reasons, your loved one’s loneliness is a health issue, and needs to be addressed like any other health issue.
In home health care can be very valuable to lonely seniors. A friendly caregiver can visit your loved one every day when you’re at work for conversation, games, or hobbies like scrapbooking. Since caregivers and seniors are matched based on personality, your loved one may grow to be friends with their caregiver.
2. Personal Care
As people age, personal care tasks can become harder to do. Conditions like limited mobility or arthritis may make personal care difficult, though your loved one may be reluctant to mention the problem. Everyone wants to remain independent, and it can be embarrassing to tell your child that you need help with tasks like getting dressed.
There are some clues that a senior needs help with personal care tasks. Your loved one may stay in pajamas all day, not take baths as often as usual, or have messy hair. If you notice restroom smells throughout the house, continence may be an issue. Gently bring up these issues with your loved one, and suggest in home health care.
In home caregivers can help your loved one with personal care tasks. These tasks include getting dressed, washing or styling hair, brushing teeth, bathing, or using the restroom. Your loved one may feel uncomfortable about the idea of strangers helping with these intimate tasks, but senior care providers try to send the same caregiver every time so seniors can feel comfortable.
3. Homemaker Care
Keeping a home clean and well-maintained can be a challenge for anyone, but it gets harder when you get older. For seniors with arthritis, balance issues, fatigue, or other health issues, cleaning the house can take a lot longer than it used to. When you visit your loved one, you may notice that the house is cluttered or dirty.
For seniors that aren’t able to perform housekeeping tasks, homemaker care is a great option. A caregiver can come to your loved one’s home to help with tasks like shopping, cooking dinner, or doing the dishes. Cleaning tasks like vacuuming, mopping the floors, and dusting can also be performed by a caregiver. This lets your loved one live in a clean, safe environment.
