As time passes, many seniors begin having difficulty doing simple things around the home, such as cleaning up spills or watering their plants. They also can start to neglect personal hygiene, forget to prepare meals, or take their medication. Over time, the situation often worsens, leading to injuries, malnutrition, and other health complications. Many seniors going through these changes aren’t yet ready to move to an assisted living facility or receive skilled nursing care. They’re still relatively independent, but they do need some outside help. In-home care provides that help, allowing seniors to age in place in the comfort of their own homes.
In-home care provides many benefits for seniors living at home and their families. Let’s look at five of them.
Personalized Care and Assistance
Home care provided by a professional home care agency and caregiver is tailor-made for each senior. Quality home care agencies will perform an individual assessment and create a written, personalized care plan for the senior they’ll be helping. In addition, the agency will assign a caregiver whose background and personality will be well-suited to that of the senior in order to best provide the one-on-one care they need.
Reduced Stress On the Family
Home care takes the pressure off family caregivers to do everything for everyone, and take care of their own needs at the same time. Full-service home care agencies provide respite care, giving family caregivers time to rest and recharge. Professional caregivers can come in for a few hours a day or a day or two per week. They’ll help with meal preparation, personal care, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and much more.
Safety for Seniors
Having an in-home caregiver also means having another set of eyes watching your loved one. Caregivers can make sure seniors stay safe during hot summers, take their medications when they should, eat nutritious meals, and avoid dangerous falls.
They also keep family members updated on changes they notice or areas where a senior may be struggling. This helps children stay informed and able to make important decisions concerning the level of care their parent needs.
Hiring and Administration
Home care agencies take responsibility for interviewing and screening caregivers. They also perform background and reference checks, verify licensing and certifications, and train the caregivers they hire to meet the agency’s standards of excellence.
The home care agency will handle payroll, taxes, insurance, and benefits for your caregiver. And if you ever feel the caregiver assigned to assist your loved one isn’t a good fit, the agency will promptly provide a replacement.
Companionship
Many seniors crave companionship. They’ve lost spouses and close friends over the years, family members have moved away or are busy with jobs or school, and they spend hour upon hour alone.
An in-home caregiver does more than prepare meals, do laundry, and make the bed. They spend quality time with the seniors they’re helping, whether it be reading or watching a movie together, going for a walk in the neighborhood, playing games, or just sitting and visiting.
Seniors and their in-home caregivers develop a bond that keeps an older adult from feeling alone and isolated. They look forward to their caregiver’s consistent visits and companionship.
Home Instead of Northern Milwaukee is the premier provider of personalized in-home care for seniors living in Wauwatosa, North Shore, Shorewood, and surrounding areas. Our trained caregivers provide the compassionate care your loved one needs to remain safe and happy at home.
Contact us today to receive more information concerning our agency, caregivers, and services. We’ll be happy to provide you with a FREE assessment and a personalized care plan.