As people enter their golden years, there is a good chance that everyday living will become more difficult than it used to be. It is natural for seniors to not have the mobility or vision they once had, and it is also normal for elderly individuals to not have the good health they did before. Because of this, taking care of yourself becomes tougher to do, so you will need some level of assistance to continue living a safe, healthy life.
In such a case, places like nursing homes, retirement communities, and assisted living facilities can be beneficial as they provide such help to seniors. However, the idea of moving out and into another place is not appealing to many. In fact, elderly individuals are increasingly preferring to age in place, staying in the comfortable and familiar environment of their own home.
The good news is that seniors who want to age in place can do so safely with the help of in-home care services. If you have an elderly loved one who needs senior home care, then you can feel at ease knowing that there are services available to assist them. However, you may find yourself unsure of how to go about getting in-home care for your elderly relative.
Use the following information to figure out how to get elderly home care help for the senior in your life.
Talk with Your Loved One
Before you decide to pursue home care, it is imperative that you speak with your elderly loved one about their need for such assistance. This is especially the case if the senior is hesitant about getting help. Some elderly individuals may have a tougher time accepting the fact that they need daily assistance. When talking to them, emphasize that it is normal to need help as people age and that hiring help is only to ensure they can continue to live in a safe manner.
The following are a few signs that your elderly loved one may need home care:
- Poor hygiene
- Limited mobility
- Injuries
- Weight loss
- Poorly maintained home
Determine the Senior’s Care Needs
Before looking into potential senior home care services, you first need to know precisely what kind of help your elderly relative requires. This ensures that whichever service you decide on can effectively cater to your loved one’s specific care needs. Additionally, it can help you figure out whether home care is the proper choice for your relative.
For example, if an elderly individual just needs help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing and getting dressed, and other daily tasks like meal preparation, then in-home care is a good fit. But elderly home care will probably not be sufficient for a senior who needs regular medical care in addition to help with ADLs. This is because home care does not include medical assistance.
Figure Out How to Cover In-Home Care Costs
In-home care can be costly, so it is important to consider how those costs will be covered. If you or your loved one does not have enough money to cover the costs on their own, look for help from their own private insurance company and inquire about potential home care coverage. Oftentimes, insurance will cover elderly home care services if they have long-term care insurance. There may, however, be limitations with the coverage.
If private insurance will not cover home care costs for your elderly relative, then look into Medicaid. Medicaid can cover senior home care for certain elderly individuals, so ask if your loved one qualifies.
Research and Evaluate In-Home Care Options
People want the best for their family members, so be thorough when looking into home care options to ensure you hire the right caregiver for your loved one. This person will be spending a lot of time with your elderly relative, so the caregiver needs to be someone you and your loved one can trust and is comfortable with having in their home. Whether looking into a home care agency or an independent provider, research their services and look into reviews from other clients.
The following are among things to ask about when considering a home agency/caregiver:
- Services provided
- Home care costs
- Background checks
- Qualifications and experience
- Licensing
- References
Professional Senior Home Care Services from Assisting Hands
If you are looking into in-home care for your elderly loved one, then Assisting Hands Home Care can help through the elderly home care services we provide in Fort Worth, TX.
To begin, we will hold an initial consultation with you and your loved one to assess their care needs. Using this information, we will create a customized care plan specifically suited to their unique needs. From there, we assign one of our qualified caregivers to provide in-home care for your elderly relative. We can assist with personal hygiene, bathing, and showering, getting dressed, and other activities of daily living (ADLs). Beyond that, our caregivers can also provide meal preparation, companionship, and transportation services.
All of the caregivers we employ at Assisting Hands have passed a background check and undergo additional training. Our professional caregivers are properly bonded, insured, and licensed so you can feel at ease knowing that your elderly relative is being sufficiently cared for by a qualified professional.
