There may come a point in your senior loved one’s life when he or she needs more help than you can provide. If this sounds like your situation, it might be time to take a closer look at in-home care. Hiring a caregiver can provide your loved one with a variety of physical and psychological benefits.
1. Aging in the Comfort of Home
One of the biggest benefits of this type of caregiving is the ability to remain at home. After years of turning houses into homes, it can be difficult for older adults to move away to senior communities or hospice facilities. While they’re home, they can continue to sleep in their own beds and make meals in their own kitchens.Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional home care service seniors can trust and rely on.
2. More Independence
Once seniors are no longer able to drive or perform certain chores, they might feel their sense of independence is fading away. Hiring a home caregiver allows you to personalize the amount of help your loved one receives. An in-home caregiver can spend all day helping your loved one or simply drop by for a few hours to assist with meals or errands.
3. One-on-One Care
Unlike staff at many senior care facilities, an in-home caregiver is going to give his or her undivided attention to your loved one. There won’t be any distractions that will keep the caregiver occupied. Your loved one will continue to receive the personal attention he or she needs to live a long and happy life.
4. No Strict Routine
After setting their own routines for years, it can be difficult for seniors to adapt to new schedules. Even if they decide to live with family members for a short time, they might have very little say over mealtimes and other daily activities. With in-home caregivers, they can continue to stick to the schedules they’ve grown accustomed to over the years.
5. Lower Costs
A home caregiver can be an investment, but the costs are generally lower than an inpatient facility or senior living community. For seniors who are living on fixed incomes, paying huge sums of money to dedicated senior communities could be difficult. If your loved one only needs assistance a few hours a week, caregiving won’t be such a financial burden.
6. Reduced Risk of Loneliness
Even when seniors can carry out their own chores and errands, they still need to socialize as much as possible. Having someone around for a few hours a week gives seniors a chance to converse about interesting topics or catch up on news. Many caregivers become close friends with their clients, and that sense of companionship is invaluable.For families living in Des Moines, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
7. Maintained Dignity
One of the most difficult aspects of aging is losing the sense of dignity and self-confidence. Those who move into senior facilities often feel as if their family members are embarrassed by them. By staying at home, your loved one can preserve his or her dignity and confidence. Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading Des Moines in-home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks. To talk to one of our friendly Care Managers and create a customized senior care plan, call us at (515) 264-2438.
