As people age, many seniors are choosing to age at home as opposed to going into a facility such as assisted living or a nursing home. Living at home after retirement is an adjustment as life slows down and there are not as many responsibilities to take care of compared to when the senior was working. Once seniors start needing help with daily activities, they seek out home care.

Most seniors prefer to age at home as opposed to going into a facility and losing some of their independence. However, once seniors start needing help with their daily lives, family members may step in and help, but depending on the help needed, it may become too much for them. This is where home care can help.

Each situation is unique and should not be compared to others. In-home care is care received from a professional caregiver. It is ideal for seniors, adults who have chronic conditions, those who’ve had surgery and are coming home to recover, and those with special needs or disabilities.

Here are some benefits to your loved one receiving home care:

• They get to age in the comfort of their own home.
• Caregivers will make sure that they do not get injured and help them if they’ve had a surgery or are suffering from a chronic illness.
• Caregivers will help with any emergencies.

These are the services included in in-home care:

• Assistance with Activities of Daily Living
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Companionship
• Accompany to Doctor Appointments
• Picking up Prescriptions

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The type of care your loved one will receive depends on their needs. Assisting Hands Home Care can help you determine those needs. We will come in to see your loved one at their home and evaluate their needs to work on the best home care plan that best meets their needs.

There are various types of home care available to meet your loved one’s needs. Here are a few:

• 24-Hour Home Care: This is when a caregiver lives with your loved one and provides them with care all day and night. Caregivers work 8-12 hours and then switch with another caregiver. This allows for the caregivers to be alert and awake 24/7 if your loved one needs help.

• Overnight Home Care: Overnight home care includes a caregiver who is available throughout the night to help your loved one. The caregiver will be with your loved one from the evening when they help them get ready for bed. Then, they are awake during the night to respond to their needs and any emergencies during the night. They can either stay in the room with your loved one or somewhere nearby. The caregiver will also help your loved one in the morning and get them ready for the day.

• Companion Care: Many seniors get lonely as friends and family may not live near them or are unable to visit. This can lead to depression for some seniors. This is where the importance of an in-home caregiver comes in. They can provide the care they need and some social companionship. Caregivers will naturally develop a great relationship with your loved one while providing them care that includes doing fun activities and conversing with them.

• After-Surgery Home Care: When your loved one comes back home after surgery, they usually require extra help so they can fully recover. This includes help with moving around and following the doctor’s instructions for recovery. They must take medications properly and on time, get rest, and not overexert themselves. A caregiver can help make sure that your loved one follows discharge instructions and that they rest properly so they can fully recover. The caregiver will monitor any changes so they can be reported to their doctor. Finally, they can help your loved one with household tasks until they recover.

• Dementia Care / Alzheimer’s Care: For seniors with dementia, daily care is necessary. The best option for care is in their own home as they are familiar with the environment. Also, professional caregivers that are licensed to work with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients should be chosen to care for your loved one as they know how to handle any situations related to those conditions. It may be common for your loved one with dementia to exhibit behaviors such as wandering and agitation, and the caregivers will know how to react. Also, they will exercise their brain with memory games to keep them engaged.

• Respite Care: Sometimes, a family member may take full-time care of their loved one as an informal caregiver. However, providing full-time care is demanding, and they must spend long hours caring for them. This means that they may stop caring for themselves as much and experience burn-out. If you have a loved one who is being taken care of by a family member, respite care is a great option to give them some time off. Respite care provides a caregiver at a specific time to relieve the family caregiver. They will provide the same type of care that the family caregiver usually does.

• Live-In Care: Live-in care includes an assigned caregiver who will be with your loved one providing them care all day and night. They will help with ADL’s, housekeeping, meal prep, transportation etc. They will be with your loved one at least 3-4 days and then another caregiver will come in to stay for the rest of the week. Live-in caregivers need to be provided a room, so they have somewhere to sleep and have a space to put their personal items. This is the best type of care for those with chronic conditions, disabilities, or those who have lost their spouse.

• Senior Home Care / Elderly Care: This type of care is for those who would like to age at home but need help with daily tasks and in their home. This includes help with meal prep, getting dressed, transportation, daily chores, medication reminders etc. Home caregivers are the best option if your loved one needs this type of help so they can age at home comfortably and safely.

• Hospice Home Care: Hospice home care is a valuable, compassionate option for people who are nearing the end of their lives. Hospice home care is different from regular medical care because it focuses on the daily needs of hospice patients such as assistance with personal care, meal preparation and light housekeeping.

Is your loved one in need of senior care? Do they need help with medication reminders, ADL’s, bathing, dressing, meal prep, and transportation? You’ve come to the right place. Assisting Hands Home Care offers help to seniors aging in place in Collegeville, King of Prusia, Limerick, Norristown, West Norriton, PA and the surrounding areas (See All Served Areas in Montgomery County, PA). We work with you and your loved one to create a personalized care plan so that they receive the care they need. We will then assign a proper caregiver for their needs so they can provide them with the care and companionship they need.

For more information on our non-medical home health care services, call us at (610) 795-2896 to learn more.