Long-term care is an important topic for people to learn about sooner rather than later. At some point, they or a loved one will probably need it. And, when this happens, they’ll have to play catch up … and there’s a lot of information to digest.
Home care is a popular topic these days. The CDC reports that in 2018 there were 11,500 home health agencies, and that number is growing. However, the advantages of home care are not always straightforward. Dealing with age-related issues will often involve multiple family members. Therefore, it’s particularly important to understand the advantages that home care provides.
The advantages of home care are plentiful and can significantly reduce the stress of caring for a loved one. We’ll explore why choosing home care might be an excellent alternative to assisted living.
The In-Home Senior Care Market continually increases in demand selecting the right level and type of care can be confusing. Aging in place is often preferred over assisted living facilities and nursing homes. One of the most common ways to facilitate aging in place is to hire a professional in-home caregiver. These private-duty caregivers are great at providing companionship, transportation, meal preparation, bathing, and various other personal care services.
Following are some of the most common benefits of hiring an in-home caregiver.
Caring for a relative can be highly stressful. Many people do not have caregiving experience, so learning these skills can be difficult. Furthermore, balancing other life events on top of caregiving can be extremely stressful. You gain peace of mind knowing that your loved one is taken care of.
Caregivers are equipped to handle both a daily routine and any extraordinary situations that may arise. They have had extensive experience and training for a myriad of problems that occur due to age-related issues. Often, a steady experienced hand can make a tremendous positive impact.
Having a personal caregiver allows your loved one to build a relationship. They can socialize with someone outside of the family, and this socialization can improve overall happiness and emotional wellbeing. Additionally, it serves as an excellent natural remedy for loneliness and isolation, which are significant contributors to a lower quality of life.
Having an in-home caregiver to help with everyday tasks provides the family and primary caretaker with a much-needed break. In turn, this leads to the primary caregiver enjoying the company of their loved one much more. This allows them to focus on enjoying quality time without the burdens that caregiving places on the relationship.
Your loved one has spent years in their own home. They’ve built memories and surrounded themselves with familiar objects they see every day. Their home is a place of love-filled memories, comfort, and joy. An in-home caregiver allows for comfortable aging within the home and prevents the need of having to adjust to a new environment.
Long-term care is an important topic for people to learn about sooner rather than later. At some point, they or a loved one will probably need it. And, when this happens, they’ll have to play catch up … and there’s a lot of information to digest.
Our nation is aging. The Census Bureau predicts that by 2034, adults 65+ will outnumber children 18 and under. Today there are many care options available to older adults depending on where they are in terms of independence and level of care needed. One person may still live in their home and only need help with light housekeeping and medication reminders, whereas another may live in an assisted living community and need help bathing, dressing and preparing meals. Fortunately, there are many care options available today to help older adults age happily in place and to live life to the fullest regardless of limitations.
The American Health Care Association estimates that there are nearly 30,000 assisted living facilities in the U.S. today and more than 15,000 skilled nursing facilities. Choosing the right living environment for yourself or a loved one can be hard. There are many facility types, costs, locations, and specialists involved that trying to choose between skilled nursing and assisted living can feel overwhelming.