Are you wondering if it’s time to have a conversation about senior home care? As your parents get older, you may be considering that they should have caregivers at home. There are many reasons why adult children consider this option. Here are three reasons to consider caregivers at home.
Assistance with Daily Tasks
Many seniors need assistance with one or more of their daily tasks or routines.
Home caregivers can help your parents with any of their daily personal care tasks. If your parents are having trouble bathing due to a fear of falling or difficulty standing, caregivers can help. Caregivers can also assist with other personal care tasks, such as grooming or toileting. With this daily assistance, your parents will be able to keep themselves clean and comfortable.
Keeping a house neat and tidy can be hard for some seniors, and caregivers can help with that, too. If your parents aren’t able to vacuum, do dishes, or do laundry, they can get the assistance they need. Caregivers can also do lighter housekeeping tasks such as dusting, which will improve the overall air quality in the home. When your parents have caregivers at home, they can continually have a clean, tidy home. Being in a clean environment can be relaxing, and it’s also safer than trying to navigate clutter.
Combat Loneliness
Are you worried that your parents are lonely? This is a very common situation for seniors to experience. As people age, their social circles get smaller. They don’t see their old friends from work after they retire, and friends or family may move away. Health concerns can make it harder for some seniors to go out and socialize, too. Your parents still have each other, and they have you, but they might benefit from some new friends.
Professional caregivers at home can fulfill this need. One of the services home care agencies provide is companion care. A friendly caregiver will be matched to your parents, and that person will come over and visit them regularly. Your parents will get a new person to talk to. They can play board games, go for walks, or work in the garden with their new friend.
Helping your parents feel less lonely can be good for their health. Loneliness is linked to depression, high blood pressure, and even dementia. This is a major benefit of companion home care.
What’s more, professional care helps in countless ways to enrich the lives of seniors. Consider the social life of your senior loved ones—with professional caregivers you can envision a lively social life and genuine human interaction. Caregivers not only help elevate your loved ones’ mental health, but they also encourage physical health and wellness through exercise and meal preparation.
Alzheimer’s or Dementia
Alzheimer’s or dementia is an especially good reason to have a professional caregiver at home. Families often choose home care for their loved ones in the early stages of these conditions. Home care lets your parents stay in their own home for as long as possible. They can remain in the safe, comfortable environment they’re used to.
Alzheimer’s and dementia affects everyone differently, so care plans need to be customized. When you use a private home care agency, your parents or loved one will receive a care plan based on their current needs; this plan will evolve as their care needs change. In the early stages of dementia, people may just need to be reminded to take their medications and to turn off the stove. Later, they may need around-the-clock care and supervision. Whatever your parents’ or loved ones’ current needs are, their caregivers can help them remain independent for as long as possible.
When your parents have caregivers at home, you can trust they’re safe and under good care. You won’t need to worry that your parents are forgetting to take their medications. You won’t need to worry about your parents wandering off and hurting themselves. They’ll be safe and you’ll have peace of mind.
