Thinking ahead and creating a proactive plan is the best way to reap the benefits of in-home care for senior loved ones. Yes, home care agencies are here to help during a crisis, when families need support ASAP.
However, it’s always best for independent adults and their spouses (or family caregivers) to create a graduated care plan that starts small—gracefully graduating care services as needed. Scheduling assessments with qualified local home care agencies early on helps families create personalized long-term care plans addressing anything that might crop up along the way.
This takes the stress and guessing game about “when do you need senior care” or “when does someone need overnight or live-in care” out of it, establishing a step-by-step plan that provides invaluable benefits along the way.
6 Invaluable Benefits of In-Home Senior Care
Whether you’ve found this article because there’s no doubt it’s time to consider home care vs. assisted living, or you’re exploring all the options, here are six benefits of establishing in-home senior care.
1. Peace of mind on all fronts
Once an in-home care plan is implemented, clients and families experience tremendous peace of mind, heart, and soul.
We often hear our clients’ spouses and family members express things like, “I had no idea how much I worried until the worrying stopped,” or, “I was losing so much sleep wondering how we were going to make this work, and now I can rest again.”
Those comments speak volumes about how stressful it is to know a loved one needs support at home while deciding what comes next. Then, there’s the reality that more than 90% of aging adults want to age in place in their own homes rather than transition into residential care away from the people and places they love.
Once you’ve implemented personalized in-home care, whether sporadically or on a part/full-time basis, you no longer worry about your loved one’s general well-being or whether it’s time to move into residential care because active caregivers are there, providing personalized support.
If the senior lives alone, without a spouse or family caregiver, in-home caregivers provide regular communication about the client’s well-being, state of mind, outings and activities, and any red flags that need to be addressed.
2. Companionship and regular social engagement
Withdrawing into social isolation is common for seniors who live alone. This is the result of mobility issues, inability to drive, or a further retreat resulting from loneliness and depression. In some cases, incontinence keeps formerly active elders at home due to potential embarrassment. Companionship services, however, change all of that.
Companion services is an umbrella term that provides access to the wide range of in-home services available to aging loved ones and their families. For some, it is the gateway to other services.
What may begin as weekly or daily wellness checks or companionship at home and on outings creates a comfort level, making clients feel more comfortable requesting other services as needed. In addition to companionship services, clients benefit from other services, including:
- Respite care for spouse or family caregivers
- Transportation services to maintain regular social appointments, healthcare appointments, meals out at favorite restaurants, etc.
- Errand running
- Weekly outings to get out and about, spend time in nature, etc.
- Light housekeeping of main living areas, bedroom, and bathroom
- Laundry and linen changes
- Grocery shopping and meal preparation (see below)
- Personal care (hygiene, support with bathing/showering, toileting, incontinence care, etc.)
- Pet care
- Participating in favorite hobbies or activities
During the in-home assessment, we ask questions to get a feel for our clients and then do our best to pair them with a team of caregivers we feel will be compatible and who share the same interests.
3. Daily access to healthy, nutritious meals and snacks
Senior health and well-being depend on access to high-quality nutrition. Adult nutrition is essential for weight management, mood regulation, energy to remain active, and managing and minimizing health conditions and symptoms. However, many seniors don’t have access to fresh groceries regularly and may lack the energy or ability to prepare fresh meals and snacks daily.
Our caregivers fill in the gap. They’ll do the weekly shopping and then prepare healthy, delicious, easy-to-grab or heat snacks and meals. Our employees are continually educated on the latest information on senior nutrition and modify meal plans to accommodate dietary needs or preferences.
Bonus in-home care benefits: According to ASC.com, “one in five seniors report that they feel loneliest when eating by themselves,” and seniors who eat alone are more prone to malnutrition, health issues, and depression.
Providing the combination of meal preparation and companionship means aging loved ones eat more, are more energized, and experience higher quality of life.
4. A safe, clean, and accessible home
Aging in place safely and independently requires a clean and accessible home. During our assessment and throughout our time working in a client’s home, we make sure the house remains clean.
We also make minor modifications to remove trip/fall hazards and keep the most useful things accessible, thereby minimizing the need for stepladders or bending/reaching—which can increase fall risks.
If more significant changes are needed for mobility access and security, we’ll provide a list of home improvements to be completed by licensed professionals.
5. Significant cost savings when compared with residential options
Families save thousands of dollars annually when they opt for home care rather than residential options. When you compare the costs of in-home vs. residential care options, homecare options are the most affordable. And the one-on-one caregiver/client ratio means clients receive exceptionally better care when you bring caregivers into the home.
During your in-home assessment, licensed caregiving agencies can discuss the different ways clients pay for senior care, making it even more affordable for clients and families.
Learn More About In-Home Care Benefits
Families Choice Home Care is one of the Inland Empire’s most experienced and high-quality senior in-home care providers. Please take advantage of our free, in-home assessments to learn more about the benefits of in-home care and its costs.
