Caring for an elderly loved one takes a significant amount of physical and emotional energy. While we all want to provide the with the best care, it’s not always easy to keep up with the many demands this care can place on us, in addition to our everyday responsibilities. Senior care at home can be an excellent way to provide high-quality care for your loved one while getting the support you need. This type of care involves working with home health aides, nurses, volunteers, and others who provide a range of services that improve your loved one’s quality of life.
The following is what you can expect from senior home care and some of its many benefits.
Constant Care
Family caregivers often need to attend to their day jobs, children, and own health, in addition to caring for their loved ones. If you find that you’re unable to provide care, a member of your loved one’s senior care team can step in at any time during the day. While they provide a number of services and keep an eye on your loved one, you’ll be able to handle other tasks with peace of mind.
Support for Activities of Daily Living
As we age, it can be more difficult to bathe, dress, and even enjoy meals comfortably. Senior home care aides can support your loved one with any of these daily tasks. This enables them to continue living within the comfort of their own home as they age and improving their quality of life with a sense of consistency.
Access to Skilled Nursing at Home
Remaining at home as we age can be an essential component of aging with dignity. Patients with memory-related illnesses will benefit from the consistency and familiarity of home. Because your loved one associates memories, routines, family, and joy with their home, skilled nursing at home provides comfort and an excellent alternative to spending extended periods of time in hospitals. Senior care at home brings skilled nurses into the home, who are qualified to administer a variety of tests and minor treatments so loved ones don’t have to leave home.
Expert Diet and Nutrition Support
It can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet as one ages, especially when illness and poor health are involved. Expert dieticians and nutritionists provide guidance based on your loved one’s health. Qualified professionals can ensure that your loved one is getting all the nutrients they need. This kind of help takes all the guesswork out of meal planning for you.
Medication Management
Because it’s easy to forget to take one’s medication, senior home care manages your loved one’s medications. They also understand whenthe patient’s medication is no longer working properly. Senior home care ensures that your loved one takes their medication at the right time each day and knows when to question if the dosage needs to be adjusted. Aides and other home care team members maintain close communication with medical professionals, allowing them to inform your loved one’s doctor about needed changes as quickly as possible.
Help with Household Chores
Little tasks like emptying the dishwasher and dusting the shelves can quickly fall to the wayside when your loved one’s health takes priority. Senior home care volunteers can assist with these tasks, making your home more comfortable and taking one more thing off of your to-do list for the day. When small tasks piling up it can feel overwhelming So, a bit of household support from a volunteer can make a big difference in your mental health and stress levels. This allows you to feel refreshed and focus on your loved one’s care and other, more significant priorities instead.
Respite Care
Many family caregivers worry about who will care for their loved ones if they need to attend an important event far from home. With senior home care, you can be sure that your loved one will receive high-quality care in your absence. Whether at home or in a short-term stay facility, home care can ensure that there are no gaps in your loved one’s support. Medicare may cover the costs of a short stay at a facility outside the home, so check your loved one’s policy to see what services can be used when you need some time off.
One-on-One Focus & Support
Personalized attention can ensure that your loved one is receiving targeted support for their most important health concerns. By spending one-on-one time with your loved one, senior home care team members will be able to quickly identify changes in their health and make any adjustments to their care routine as necessary. This time also allows them to develop close friendships with your loved one, which can be highly beneficial to their mental health if they are unable t enjoy social interaction outside the home.
Affordable Alternative to Hospital Care
Hospital care can be expensive, and many insurance plans may only cover a certain number of days in the hospital before family members will be responsible for the cost of care. Senior home care is often more affordable than hospital stays, helping to ease the financial strain of caring for a loved one as they age. This ensures that they are still able to receive the healthcare they need to live comfortably while also allowing you to help them pay for that care, if necessary.
Securing Senior Care At Home
Reach out to Comfort Home Care for more information about senior care at home and to see if your loved one is eligible. Comfort Home Care provides customized care plans, which are undertaken by certified home health aides and other professionals who work in partnership with families to provide high-quality care. These plans include support for mental and physical health, medication management, social interaction, independence, and overall quality of life as your loved one ages in the comfort of their own home.