Choose Care in the Home for Elderly Relatives

In an ideal world, everybody would be able to age in place, surrounded by the familiar environment and comforts of home. But when we try to provide care in the home for our aging relatives ourselves, things can get complicated fast. Most families don’t have the medical knowledge or caretaker skills to properly look after our aging family members, and importantly, this kind of care is often an all-day affair. It’s hard to work, go to school, and function as a family when your primary role is that of caretaker, not relative.

But there is a way forward: home care. Hiring professional, compassionate, trained professional caregivers to look after your loved ones is the perfect way to let them stay in the home and with the family—or to maintain an independent household for longer. Elder care is an important decision that should not be made lightly, and you need to be informed before you decide on care in the home or other alternatives. 

Why Care in the Home is Beneficial

One of the most important aspects of elder care in the home is the personalized attention that your loved one is able to receive. Unlike a hospital or nursing home, home carers only have one person to focus on, meaning that their individual needs and preferences are always top priority. This also means that home carers are able to be more flexible than hospital nursing staff, which can make a world of difference for family members with memory loss or unpredictable needs. 

It’s also well understood that staying in a familiar environment helps with mental and emotional well-being. One of the hardest parts of a care transition is adjusting daily living to a new environment; with care in the home, your loved one doesn’t have to deal with that complication. Home health care services also allow seniors to maintain some independence and control while receiving the necessary care. And what’s more, home care is what many seniors want; an AARP survey shows that 77% of seniors want to age in place. Skilled care at home respects these wishes. 

Home care is also safer for medically vulnerable seniors; there is a lower risk of infection compared to hospital or nursing home settings. Studies note that nursing home residents are at high risk for medical complications due to the shared public spaces and equipment, including the risk of drug-resistant bacterial infections. This problem is much less likely to occur in a home setting, where your relative’s contact will be more controlled.

Services Offered in Home Care

One of the major draws of a care home, nursing home, or other facility is the amount of services offered. But what many people exploring care options don’t know is that these services can also come through care in the home providers. Home caretakers can provide all kinds of personal and medical assistance, including medication management, mobility help, bathing, dressing, toileting, physical therapy, and more. This allows your relative to maintain the dignity of not asking a family member to help them in this way.

Home caretakers can also provide household help, like light housekeeping, meal preparation, and errands—and they can also bring an element of companionship and emotional support to your senior’s quality of life. Having a home caretaker helps combat loneliness, which can be devastating to seniors. 

It’s also a misconception that you have to engage a nursing facility for specialized care. Care in the home can encompass chronic illness management, post-surgery care, and memory care. For relatives with dementia, a home health care worker can help with the agitation and sundown syndrome that often arises, and can ensure home safety so that your relative doesn’t have to learn new daily living routines in a new location. 

For post-surgical patients, all the challenges of wound care, dressing management, and medication regimens can also be assisted by a home care nurse or aide. Recovering in their own bed, away from the hospital, can be an enormous ray of hope and promote recovery for a surgical patient.

How to Choose the Right Home Care Provider

Choosing the right provider for care in the home does require some legwork. First, you need to identify the level of care required. Is it medical care, personal care, or both? Not all providers offer both types of care. You also need to make sure that your providers are vetted. Ask about certifications, and read reviews to see how their current clients and their families feel about them.

Moving Forward with Care in the Home

Home care has so many benefits for your elderly relatives. It allows them to stay engaged and present with the family and their daily living routine, and it is often safer than a nursing home due to the risks of cross-infection. Most elders want to age in place, and care in the home gives them the opportunity to enjoy their golden years in the community that’s meaningful to them. 

For more information about available care in the home services or to receive a free consultation, contact Amazing Home Care today.