Choosing someone to take care of your loved ones as they age can be a challenging time for anyone. It is stressful to try to find someone who will love them and care for them while maintaining their dignity when you are not able to be there instead. You often have to choose between nursing homes, assisted living, and in-home care options and knowing which one is the best option for your loved one’s particular situation is difficult. Many times, having senior care services come to them is a better option than putting them in a nursing home, for several reasons. Below are just a few of the reasons to consider hiring an elderly home care service before looking at a nursing home for your elderly loved one.
It allows them to keep their independence
When you have to make the difficult decision to put your loved one in a nursing home, it means more than just taking them out of their own home, it means that they go from living the independent life that they are used too, to having to live on someone else’s terms and conditions. With home care, the patient will be encouraged to remain as independent as they safely can be. The in-home caregiver will help the patient install safety measures such as bars to hold on too, rugs so that they do not slip and other things. This will allow them to stay in their home and move at their will so life remains as normal as possible.
Home care allows the family to remain hands-on
If you put your elderly loved one in a nursing home, then you as their family member will have to abide by the rules of the establishment which may make it very difficult to visit. On the other hand, if you hire someone to take care of your elderly patient in their home, then you have the freedom to visit whenever you want and help if any concerns arise. You can also be present if the patient wants you make them feel more in control of their lives.
Ongoing care
Hiring a nurse to help at the home means that the patient will be met with the same person or the same team of nurses on a daily basis. This will help them ensure that the care team is in constant contact and helps the patient form a safe, familiar routine so they know who to expect every day.
Often considered safer
An in-home team can give the patient a one on one type of care that you could not get in a nursing home. They ensure that any needs are met quickly and nothing goes unnoticed.
Less expensive
Nursing homes, for good reason, are often very expensive. In-home care options are often less expensive as you can hire people to be there for only certain amounts of time. This also means that you as the family to a senior citizen can have less stress when it comes to care for your loved one as you can afford care for them much easier without giving up the quality of care and attention they are getting.
Want to see what it could look like? We found this video on Youtube that showcases a day in the life of a caregiver for the elderly:
