INDEPENDENCE, SUPPORT, AND OTHER BENEFITS OF HOME CARE

For frail seniors, loss of independence is a scary thought. However, as we age and require extra assistance with activities of daily life, most prefer to remain in the comfort and familiarity of home, as opposed to moving into a facility or nursing home. In-home agencies with trained caregivers can help seniors age safely and comfortably in place, allowing them to remain as independent as possible. Other benefits of home care include: a. Family support. Home care allows families to stay closer and family members tend to be more involved with the care when their loved one is at home. On a personal level, family members much prefer to visit their parents or loved ones at home rather than in a facility. b. Personalization. Home care offers personalized care tailored to the needs of the family and the individual on any given day. Assisting with a bath is done in a warm, private and familiar bathroom, for instance. c. One-on-one attention. Because home care services are delivered one-on-one by a trained caregiver when the loved one wants or needs something, as opposed to a group setting found in nursing homes, there is no “waiting for one’s turn” or when an overly-busy aide is finally available to provide the assistance. d. Exercise! Staying mobile is extremely important as we age. With a home care program, personalized daily exercise routines can be implemented and maintained with the safety of a qualified professional on hand. e. Healthy meals for a healthy body. Not only can in-home caregivers help clients stay active, they can also prepare home-cooked healthy meals that appeal to the senior or that the senior would like to eat that day. This is in direct contrast to seniors in facilities having to eat what’s being served that day in the cafeteria, whether or not they want to eat that particular choice of food. f. Cost-effectiveness. Care provided in the home setting is usually a third to half of the cost of a nursing home or assisted living facility, depending on the level of care required for the senior. For those seniors that do require intensive care, home care costs can approach that of facilities but when contrasted with the comfort, security and safety of the one-on-one care a well-trained caregiver provides in the home setting, virtually every senior would prefer to be at home. AAging Better In-Home Care would be happy to speak with you, your loved or any other senior about the significant benefits of home care. Please contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.