In Home Care for Seniors: The Option You May Not Have Heard About
“I never want to end up in a nursing home.”
If you’re the child of an elderly parent, more than likely you’ve heard your loved one say these words or a similar statement signifying his or her wish to continue to age in place at home as opposed to moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility. The fact is, the vast majority of seniors want to continue living in their own homes for as long as possible – for many reasons. Home is the place they’ve lovingly created, so it’s where they feel the most at ease. Living at home also gives meaning and purpose to an older adult’s life. Activities as simple as looking at one’s possessions, reading the mail, or sitting on the deck are more meaningful in one’s own home than in a facility because it is the dwelling that creates the context of one’s life. The comforts of home provide a sense of serenity and privacy that cannot be replaced.
And yet, many people of all ages are are under the false assumption that life in a nursing home or assisted living facility is necessary for all elderly. Could it really be possible to age safely and independently at home? Actually, in home care for seniors can be a long-term, feasible option for many. Living at home not only provides the comfort of familiar surroundings and independence from regimented schedules, but based on Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, home care can be a much more cost-effective option as well.
To find out if your senior loved one could benefit from the help of a professional caregiver rather than making the extreme decision to sell his or her home and move into a nursing home or assisted living facility, begin paying attention to the level of functioning in the following two areas:
- Review Needs for Basic Everyday Personal Activities: These needs are basically activities that individuals participate in each day. These activities are essential to caring for oneself and preserving independence, such as bathing, getting dressed, getting in or out of the bed or a chair, using the toilet, eating and getting around or walking.
- Review Needs for Independence Maintaining Activities: These are activities connected to independent living and include planning and preparing meals, managing money (writing checks, paying bills), shopping for groceries or personal items, upkeep of a residence/performing housework (e.g. laundry, housecleaning), taking medications, using a phone, handling mail and traveling via car or public transportation.
Is home care possible for your senior loved one? Home & Hearth Caregivers in Chicago can help you decide. Our compassionate and exceptionally qualified staff provide you with an alternative to placing your aging loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Contact us today for senior care in IL at 800-349-0663 with any questions.