There’s no better place to heal than in the comfort of your own home, especially after a hospital visit. But, it’s not always easy for family members who act as informal caregivers. They often face physical and emotional challenges, as highlighted by a study from PubMed Central (PMC).
Home care services can ease this burden. They provide families with more time to focus on recovery. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of in-home care for your elderly loved ones.
What is Home Care Services?
Home care is when a trained aide or certified nursing assistant comes to your home to help with non-medical care. It’s a popular choice because it lets your elderly loved ones stay at home—and that makes life better for them.
Caregivers help with housework, cooking, shopping, personal care, moving safely, and taking medicine. They also keep your loved one company, so they won’t feel lonely or have no one to talk to.
Plus, these dedicated caregivers can also help your seniors visit friends and keep doing their hobbies. This way, they can keep living life the way they want!
Top Benefits of In-Home Care for Your Loved Ones
In-home care offers many benefits for those who need extra support. It helps seniors live more comfortably and safely. Below are the top benefits of in-home care for your loved ones.
1. Saves Money Effectively
Often, when an elderly person can’t handle just one part of their tasks—like cooking meals or bathing—they end up moving to a long-term care facility. This usually happens because there aren’t many other choices.
But with home care, people only get the help they really need, right at home. This can cut down on the overall cost of care and make things easier for both the patient and their family. Plus, it helps reduce the financial strain on taxpayers too.
2. Provides Emotional Comfort
Growing older can bring many challenges. People may lose loved ones, their ability to drive, or even their independence.
But, in-home care is special because it helps people keep the things that matter most to them. They can stay in their own home, sleep in their own bed, and make memories, like sitting around the kitchen table. With the help they need, it’s easier for them to keep doing what they love.
In fact,a survey by AARP found that 77% of adults over 50 want to stay in their own homes for the long term—a choice that has remained steady for more than a decade.
3. Protects Personal Dignity
In long-term care facilities, they try their best, but some things can make people uncomfortable. For instance, your loved one might have to share a bedroom or bathroom with others. They may also have different caregivers helping with personal tasks, like taking a bath or using the toilet.
What’s special about home care is that it lets people build trust with the same caregivers. They get the care they need in their own home—this helps them feel more comfortable and respected.
4. Encourages Strong Family Bonds
When older people move out of their homes, it can change their relationship with their family. Going to a care facility usually means they see family less and don’t have as much time to talk privately, which can make them feel lonely.
But with in-home care, older people can stay in their own homes and see their family as much as they want. There are no rules about visiting hours, so they can enjoy their time together freely. An article from Renaissance Home Health Care says that this helps family members stay close and keep their bond strong.
5. Enhances Safety at Home
As people get older, they are more likely to fall because of changes in their vision, hearing, balance, and movement. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)reports that 1 in 4 older adults falls each year. Being in a new place can make this risk even higher. Things like rugs or small steps can be hard to notice and cause accidents.
That’s where in- home care makes a difference. By giving care in a place they are familiar with, home care providers can help prevent accidents, falls, and serious injuries. This way, people are safer in their own homes.
6. Offers Greater Patient Choice
Home care plays an important role in healthcare because it gives patients the chance to make decisions about their care. Once someone moves into a facility, it can be really hard to leave. That’s why choosing home care while it’s still an option is a great way to keep all choices open for as long as possible.
7. Brings Peace of Mind to Families
In addition to helping those who need care, in-home also brings comfort to families. When family members know their loved ones are getting good care in a place they know and love, it makes them feel less stressed.
They can easily stay in touch with caregivers and get updates on how their loved one is doing. This helps families feel more involved and less worried—because they know their loved one is in safe hands at home.
How to Broach the Topic of In-home Care
Talking about in-home care with a loved one can be hard, but it’s important to make sure they are safe and comfortable. Below are some simple tips to help you bring up the topic in a kind and understanding way.
- Be sensitive about the topic. Carefully set the right moment to sit them down and talk to them. They might already feel sensitive about their situation.
- Discuss the different types of in-home care there are. There are different services that are being offered by different in-home care agencies, depending on your loved one’s needs. It can be for household help, personal care, nursing care, or simply companionship. Start small which involves less personal tasks to get their trust.
- Emphasize that in-home care will not take away their freedom, rather, it will give them more time to do the things that matter to them more. In-home care also helps everyone in the family, not just them. If everyone is relaxed and has more free time, there are more opportunities to bond.
- Check with your insurance provider which in-home cares are covered. Get recommendations from your doctor and family. Check their qualifications to know if they match what you need.
Home Care or Nursing Home: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing the right care for your loved one can be hard. Some families wonder if in-home care or a nursing home is better. In-home care lets your loved one stay at home and get help with daily tasks. Nursing homes, on the other hand, offer 24/7 medical care and are best for seniors who need constant attention or have serious health problems.
To learn more about the differences, check out our blog post, Home Care vs. Nursing Home: Which is the Better Choice? to help you decide what’s best for your family.
Final Words
As people live longer and stay more active than ever before, the way elderly people age has changed a lot. This makes home care more important than ever. It allows them to stay in a familiar place while receiving the personal care they need. In-home care is a great way to ensure your loved ones remain safe, happy, and comfortable as they get older.
Thoughtful Home Care is here to assist with your needs. Connect with us to see if our home care services are the right choice for your family, especially if you’re in Upland, California, and nearby cities.
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2791523/
https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2021/home-and-community-preferences-survey.html
https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data-research/
https://www.renaissancehomehc.com/post/the-role-of-family-in-home-care
