February 9, 2023
If you are the child of an elderly mother or father, you’ve likely listened to your loved one discuss their desire to remain at home rather than moving to a long-term care facility. The truth is, the vast majority of older people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible – for a wide range of reasons. Home is the place they’ve lovingly created, so it’s where they are the most comfortable and familiar. Living at home also creates meaning and purpose to one’s life. Something as basic as looking at your possessions, reading the mail, or unwinding on the back deck are more significant at home than in a long-term care facility because it is the home that creates the framework of life. The comforts of home provide a sense of peace and privacy that can’t be substituted.
And yet, many people, regardless of age, are under the false presumption that life in a large assisted living facility or nursing home is inevitable for the elderly. Is it really possible to age safely and independently using home care services? Actually, in-home caregiving can be a long-term, practical option for many who determine that it’s time for home care services. Living at home provides not only the enjoyment of familiar surroundings and independence from managed schedules, but also, based on Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, home care can be a much more affordable option as well.
To determine if a senior you love might benefit from the assistance of a skilled caregiver as an alternative to making the significant decision to sell their home and move into a nursing home, start paying attention to the degree of functioning in the following two areas:
- Standard Activities of Daily Living: These activities are essential to caring for oneself, such as taking a shower, putting on clothes, getting in or out of a bed or a chair, using the bathroom, eating, and walking.
- Activities to Maintain Independence: These are activities such as planning and preparing meals, managing finances (writing checks, paying bills), grocery shopping, managing a residence/taking care of household chores, taking medications, using a phone, taking care of mail, and traveling by way of car or public transportation.
Is it time for home care services for your older loved one? Continuum can help you identify your senior care options. Our experienced and extensively trained care professionals provide you with an alternative to a nursing home or a large retirement facility. Contact us today at (314) 863-9912 or (636) 861-3336 to learn more about our home care in Clayton and the surrounding areas.