Home health care and in-home care are both similar, but they differ in terms of the level of skilled medical services provided. Home health care providers include nurses and therapists who provide services for the elderly in their homes.
In-home care is more flexible and less expensive than a nursing home or other senior care facilities. It allows seniors to get up when they want and maintain their schedules in familiar surroundings.
Stay in Your Own Home
If staying in one’s own home is a priority, families should plan ahead. That means considering their loved ones’ needs, what kind of care they might require and how that will be paid for.
Home health care is a temporary service that brings nurses and therapists into the home to provide treatment. It’s not intended to assist with everyday tasks, and the professionals who visit will not cook, do housework, or shop for their patients.
When people need help with activities of daily living, in-home care is an alternative to going into a nursing home for elderly. It’s an affordable option and allows seniors to receive the help they need without sacrificing their dignity or independence. It also allows families to get the rest they need and helps them avoid becoming overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for an aging parent. For more information about home care services, contact a trusted home health agency near you.
Maintain Your Routines
A regular schedule can be comforting for seniors who may feel less in control of certain aspects of their lives. For example, if they are having trouble eating regularly due to memory issues or other health problems, it can be reassuring to have a daily routine that will ensure they are getting enough calories to maintain good health and a healthy weight.
Keeping a schedule can also help with medication management. An in-home nurse will have intimate knowledge of a patient’s needs and can help make sure that they take their pills at the right times, and in the correct dosage.
Additionally, an in-home nurse can assist with scheduling and preparing for appointments like doctor’s visits. Often these appointments can be stressful and confusing for an elderly person, but an in-home nurse will know how to navigate this. This can prevent missed appointments and ensure that a senior gets the care they need.
Maintain Your Independence
Independence is one of the most important aspects of living at home for many elderly adults. It creates a sense of self-worth and dignity. Losing independence can make an individual feel lost and depressed, leading to more rapid health concerns.
Encourage your loved ones to maintain their hobbies, socialize with friends, and engage in daily physical activity. This will help them stay physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. Keeping seniors active can also help them live longer and enjoy their home life more.
If it’s getting difficult to run errands or perform basic chores, consider using a home healthcare aide. These individuals can help your loved ones get to doctor appointments, run errands, and perform simple tasks like showering and bathing. These aids can keep your loved ones feeling independent, while still providing the care they need.
Get Help When You Need It
Home care is a wide range of services available at home to help people with everyday tasks. Some of these services involve medical care, such as visits from a nurse or physical therapist. Other services are non-medical, such as home cleaning or shopping for groceries. People can pay for these services themselves or through long-term care insurance, veteren benefits or through Medicaid programs such as the Aid and Attendance benefit.
If you are the primary caregiver for your loved one, it may be time to get some professional help. Consider a licensed home health services agency like AHRC to take on some of the load of caring for your loved one, giving you time to focus on work and family.
Keep in mind that home health care is usually short-term but can be a daily occurrence for someone who has a chronic illness or disability. Home health services also require a prescription from your doctor to be covered by Medicare.