In the past, adult children of aging parents didn’t have a ton of options when it came to elder care. If you were the family caregiver, it was up to you to either take in your parent to live with you or find them a nursing home somewhere in the area. Today, however, the growing options available to caretakers make it far easier to plan for a senior’s future. With community-based care options like Seniors Helping Seniors and a variety of other in-home senior care services, aging adults don’t have to lack for company or first-class medical care. Aging is hard enough without seniors and children of seniors having to figure out the best option for extended care. When help comes into the home, it creates the perfect situation for seniors to thrive and stay vibrant as they move into the next phase of their lives. Here are just a few reasons why in-home senior care continues to be one of the most popular options for children of aging parents.
Autonomy
Today’s economy thrives on the idea of businesses bringing their services to your front door. In terms of senior care, it’s no different. While the concept of a full-service senior care facility might sound great in theory, adult children of aging parents are becoming more and more sensitive to the fact that a late-in-life move can be painful and disorienting, not to mention traumatic for seniors. Instead of moving elderly parents into a place where they don’t know anyone and have no way of creating a familiar environment, more and more families are deciding to bring senior care into the home. It gives seniors the ability to stay where they feel the most comfortable, keep their own routines, and go about their day as usual with a little extra help from a nurse or community member. While retirement communities and nursing homes can be restrictive, asking seniors to sign out or observe specific visiting hours each day, in-home care puts the senior at the center of the experience. It’s not about asking an older person to conform to an entirely new set of rules and demands. It’s about making their own routines and practices safer and more sustainable as they age.
Company
No one likes to be alone. And while assisted living facilities can be great for seniors seeking a new community, plenty of older adults don’t want to be uprooted from their lives, friends, and families to go to a brand new place. Instead of having to change their lifestyle to enjoy the comforts of social life, they can have in-home helpers providing them with medical care, help with chores, and good conversation. Having someone visit a senior even a few times a week can help keep their minds agile and stimulated while providing them with a window to the larger world outside. In-home carers can also create stronger bonds between seniors and families, taking more specific direction from family members and creating a more tailored version of senior care.
An Emphasis on Enjoyment
With many seniors, the need for in-home care is born out of necessity. When a senior is still able to live an independent life but needs a bit more help with day-to-day tasks, in-home care is a perfect way to provide a helpful solution that puts the focus on mental well-being rather than associating the need for extra help with a need to be taken care of 24/7. As many seniors age, they don’t need the kind of attention provided by nursing homes or assisted living facilities until their later years. The problem happens when a partner dies, and a senior finds that living alone simply isn’t what they’re used to. Hiring someone to come in and help with basic chores and reminders is a great way to help seniors stay centered and focused rather than having to think of themselves as weak or needing constant care. In-home care can also take some of the burden off of family members, especially those with larger families that can’t always give a senior the kind of care and attention they need through the day.
Safety
Perhaps most importantly, in-home care is a more thoughtful approach to keeping seniors safe and healthy. Not only do in-home nurses and caretakers help seniors navigate the world safely, they’re on hand in case of a medical emergency. They can help take seniors to doctors appointments, remind them to take their pills, and provide the kind of personalized medical care that seniors simply aren’t likely to get in larger nursing home facilities. With an in-home caretaker, a senior can feel safe and looked after without feeling hemmed in.
