More and more seniors now prefer to age in place without being uprooted. Moving to unfamiliar places where they would need to adjust to a new environment causes psychological issues to seniors. The great news is that with the right help, seniors may be able to stay and age in place. In this article, you can learn all about home care services that can help you or your loved one maintain independence and remain at home for longer.
Aging In-Place
When seniors live and age in their residence of choice for as long as they can, they tend to have more quality of life, which improves their physical and psychological health. It’s an intrinsic desire for the seniors to stay at home as they grow older. As we face the losses that are certain to come along with aging, the familiarity can be comforting because your home is likely filled with sentimental value, happy memories, and you are surrounded by people you are familiar with. Aging in place encompasses services that provide care and needed support within the senior’s residence. Seniors are unique individuals, and their needs may change over time and as they age. Rather than moving into a retirement or long-term care facility, aging in place enables seniors to stay in the comfort of their own home for as long as they want while they get older.
How can Aging-In-Place be Suitable for You?
Looking at the big picture can help you determine if staying at home for the long term truly is the best for you. Because everyone’s needs vary, in-home care depends on several factors such as the support you have, your general health and well-being, your mobility, and your financial situation. Furthermore, this may be a viable option to utilize the right in-home care services to cover the seniors’ needs with the following:
- Location and accessibility
- Home accessibility and maintenance
- Family support available
- Safety concerns
- Medical conditions
- Finances
In-Home Senior Services
A senior can get almost any type of help needed in your home — often for a cost or covered by insurance. You can decide if aging in place is the best way to maintain autonomy and make the most of your remaining years by exploring the range of services available.
- Personal care. In-home health care can provide individual services when a senior has a hard time caring for themselves. It can be for a few hours a day to full-time live-in care.
- Household keeping. A senior may find it hard to maintain a household as it takes a lot of work to keep it running smoothly. In-home care can cover chores like laundry, shopping, gardening, house cleaning, and handyman services for you.
- Meals. Cooking for yourself may already be difficult for some seniors. There are meal delivery programs for in-home care that bring hot cooked meals into a senior’s home. These programs are free or for low-cost. In-home care providers may also do grocery and cook for the seniors or order to go for them.
- Home modifications. This can go a long way towards keeping the senior’s home as comfortable and safe as possible. If mobility is becoming limited, home modifications can include grab bars and handrails in the shower, assistive sitting, ramps to avoid or minimize the use of stairs or even widening doorways. It can also include flooring modifications and installation of medical alert systems and smart home devices.
- Transportation. Senior transportation services can help prolong your independence and maintain your social network. Seniors may have difficulty driving, especially at night which may pose a safety issue.
- Money management. Difficulties in paying bills and health insurance filling may be experienced by seniors that can result in late payments. In-home care services can help with these tasks. But, make sure to be careful to avoid money scams. You can prevent these by never giving Social Security numbers, bank or credit card numbers, or other sensitive information to someone. Always have someone like a relative or home care aide check all bills, including utility bills, for charges you do not recognize.
- Health care. Seniors can be forgetful in taking medicine. Limited assistance from an in-home care aide may be provided with things such as taking blood pressure or offering medication reminders. Medical home healthcare services can be provided at home by trained professionals in addition to non-medical in-home care, such as occupational therapists, social workers, or home health nurses.
- Day programs. Day programs or adult day care can help a senior keep busy with activities during the day that can also provide a break for the family caregiver. They can maintain or improve their social lives even with old age.
Resources to Help You Age In-Place
Family, friends, and neighbors are the immediate help for many older people. Reach out to the people you know, and you can talk with those close to you about the most acceptable way to get what you need. A senior can also learn about the community and local government resources available in the community. Health care providers and social workers may have suggestions with lists of services that you can avail of. Specially trained professionals can help find resources to make your daily life easier. They are called geriatric managers, and they will work to form a long-term care plan and find the services you need. You can also look into Federal Government sources that offer many resources for seniors.
The Cost to Age In-Place
Some in-home services may cost money, but others may be free. Most services are covered by insurance. However, there are care services that may not. In-home senior care is usually cheaper than moving into an assisted living or long-term care facility. And much better because you still get to stay in your own place with an independent quality of life you deserve.
