What is aging in place? Aging in place means staying in the comfort of your own home for as long as possible as you get older, rather than moving into a retirement or long-term care facility. Aging in place may be a viable option if you only need minor assistance with your daily activities, enjoy a close network of family and friends nearby, and can utilize the right in-home care services to cover your needs.
How Do I Get In-Home Care For the Elderly?
By exploring the range of services available, you can decide if aging in place is the best way for you to maintain your independence and make the most of your golden years.
How home care services help you age in place
While it may be hard to accept, most of us will require some type of care assistance after the age of 65. You may be used to handling everything yourself, dividing up duties with your spouse, or relying on family members for minor help around the home. However, as you get older and your circumstances change, getting around and taking care of yourself can become more and more difficult. Does the idea of moving to a retirement community, assisted living facility, or nursing home not appeal? In-home care services may be able to help you remain in your own home for longer. Home care services include:
Household Maintenance
Keeping a household running smoothly takes a lot of work. If you’re finding it hard to keep up, you can look at laundry, shopping, gardening, housekeeping, and handyman services. If you’re having trouble staying on top of bills and appointments, financial and healthcare management may also be helpful.
Transportation
Transportation is a key issue for older adults. Maybe you’re finding it hard to drive or don’t like to drive at night. Having access to trains, buses, rideshare apps, reduced fare taxis, and senior transportation services can help prolong your independence and maintain your social network.
Home Modifications
If your mobility is becoming limited, home modifications can go a long way towards keeping your existing residence comfortable and accessible. Modifications can include things such as grab bars in the shower, ramps to avoid or minimize the use of stairs, or even installing a new bathroom on the ground floor.
Personal Care
Help with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, or meal preparation, is called personal or custodial care. Home health aides can provide personal care services that range from a few hours a day to around-the-clock live-in care. They may also provide limited assistance with things such as taking blood pressure or offering medication reminders.
Health Care
Some health care services can be provided at home by trained professionals, such as occupational therapists, social workers, or home health care nurses. Check with your insurance or health service to see what kind of coverage is available, although you may have to cover some costs out of pocket. Hospice care can also be provided at home.
Day Programs
Day programs or adult daycare can help you keep busy with activities and socialization during the day while providing a break for your family caregivers. Some daycare programs are primarily social. Meanwhile, others provide limited health services or specialize in disorders such as early-stage Alzheimer’s.
Is aging in place right for you?
It’s natural to want to stay at home as you grow older. The familiarity can be comforting as we face the challenges that inevitably come with aging. Your home is likely filled with fond memories and your neighborhood with familiar people. However, taking a step back to look at the big picture can help you decide whether staying at home for the long term truly is the right step for you.
Too often, decisions to leave home are made abruptly after a sudden loss or health crisis, making adjustments all the more painful and difficult. Earlier planning and examining which in-home care services are available can make it easier to make the choice that’s right for both you and your family.
Of course, everyone’s needs vary, depending on factors such as how much support you have, your general health and mobility, and your financial situation. Here are some of the issues to consider when evaluating your aging in place and in-home care options:
Location and Accessibility
Where is your home located? Are you in a rural or suburban area that requires a lot of driving? If you’re in an area with more public transit, is it safe and easily accessible? How much time does it take you to get to services such as shopping or medical appointments? It’s also important to consider proximity to community services and activities.
Home accessibility and Maintenance
Is your home easily modified? Does it have a lot of steps or a steep hill to access? Do you have a large yard that needs to be maintained?
Available Support
Do you have family and friends nearby? How involved are they? Are they able to provide you with the support you need? Many older adults prefer to rely on family to provide help, but as your needs increase, they might not be able to fill in all of the gaps. Caregiving can be physically and emotionally exhausting, especially if it is primarily on one person such as a spouse or child. Your relationships may be healthier if you are open to the idea of getting help from more than one source.
Isolation
If it becomes difficult or impossible for you to leave home without help, isolation can rapidly set in. You may not be able to participate in hobbies you once loved, stay involved in community service that kept you motivated, or visit with friends and family. Losing these connections and support is a recipe for depression.
Medical Conditions
No one can predict the future. However, if you or your spouse has a chronic medical condition that is expected to worsen over time, it’s especially important to think about how you will handle health and mobility problems. What are common complications of your condition, and how will you handle them?
Finances
Making a budget with anticipated expenses can help you weigh the pros and cons of your situation. Alternate arrangements like assisted living and senior living can be expensive. However, extensive in-home help can rapidly become expensive as well. This is especially true at higher levels of care and live-in or 24-hour coverage.
Your Family’s Opinions
Naturally, you have the final decision as to where you want to live. However, input from family members can be helpful. Are they worried about your safety or a health problem that will eventually require heavy care? Listening to concerns and keeping an open mind is key.
Coming to terms with changes in your level of independence
It’s normal to feel confused, vulnerable, or even angry when you realize you can’t do the things you used to be able to do. You may feel guilty at the prospect of having to rely on outsiders to do things you’ve been used to doing for yourself. Or you may feel uncomfortable about having strangers in your home. By acknowledging these feelings and keeping your mind open to new ways to make life easier, you’ll not only cope with your change in a situation better but may also be able to prolong other aspects of your independence for longer.
Be patient with yourself – Losses are a normal part of aging and losing some of your independence is not a sign of weakness. Allow yourself to feel sad or frustrated about changes in your home care situation without beating yourself up or labeling yourself a failure.
Be open to new possibilities – Your loved ones may offer suggestions about home care services to make your life easier. Rather than dismissing them out of hand, try to keep an open mind and discuss the options. Sometimes, new experiences and situations can lead to you developing new friendships or discovering new possibilities.
Try a trial run of services – A trial run lets you have the chance to experience the benefits of home care services without having to commit to anything long-term.
Finding the right home care services for you
Once you’ve figured out your needs, it’s time to evaluate which in-home care services are right for you and where to find the best providers. Of course, it can be difficult to entrust your home or personal care to others, especially people you don’t know. Whether you engage an in-home care service provider directly or work through an agency, you can allay your fears by conducting some basic research.
Start by seeking referrals from family, friends, or neighbors. There may be a neighbor who could regularly check in with you or provide yard maintenance, for example. Local religious groups sometimes offer meals or social activities for older adults. Ask the people you know if they have care providers they can recommend. Your doctor or other healthcare professional may also be able to provide referrals.
Full-Service Agencies
Full-service agencies usually come at a higher cost but provide prescreened applicants who have already had background checks. Since the caregiver works for the agency, they take care of billing and tax issues. They may also be bonded for issues such as theft. If a caregiver quits or is not working out, an agency can usually find a replacement quickly, and may also provide coverage if a caregiver calls in sick.
Independent Providers
Independent providers usually come at a lower cost but require more legwork on your part. You’ll need to handle any tax requirements and perform background checks and identity verification. In the case of illness or sudden termination, you’ll also be responsible for finding a replacement provider.
Talking to a loved one about home care services
It can be frightening and painful to see someone you love struggling to care for themselves. Perhaps you’ve noticed that your loved one’s home has become much messier than it used to be, or that they are wearing stained, dirty clothes. Maybe it’s clear that they haven’t had a bath for a while, or when you open the refrigerator, there’s hardly any food inside. Or perhaps your loved one has suffered a recent fall, or you’ve seen a pan burning unattended on the stove.
Sometimes, declines can happen gradually or a sudden change in health or a significant loss can trigger problems. Whatever the reason, if you’re worried about a loved one’s safety or the condition of their home, it’s important to broach the subject carefully.
Express your concerns as your own, without accusing
An older loved one might be more open to your honest expressions of concern. For example, instead of saying “It’s clear you can’t take care of yourself anymore. Something needs to be done,” try “I’ve really been worried about you. It hurts me to think that you might not be getting everything you need. What do you think we should do?”
Respect your loved one’s autonomy and involve them in decisions
Unless your loved one is incapacitated, the final decision about care is up to them. You can help by offering suggestions and ideas for home care services. If you’re worried that home care might not be enough, what other options are available? You can frame it as something to try temporarily instead of trying to impose a permanent solution.
Find the real reasons behind resistance
A loved one who’s resistant to receiving help could be frightened that they are no longer able to do tasks that were formerly so easy. It might be more comfortable to deny it and minimize any problems. Perhaps they’re grieving a loss, or they are angry they are unable to connect with friends as easily as they once did. Or maybe they’re uncomfortable with the idea of having outsiders in their home.
Enlist the help of others
Does your loved one know others who have used in-home care services? Talking to others who have had positive experiences can sometimes help remove the fear of the unknown. Sometimes hearing feedback from an unbiased third party, such as a doctor or geriatric care manager, can help a loved one realize that things need to change.
Authors: Lawrence Robinson, Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., and Monika White, Ph.D.
Promedcare
Our goal is to keep you or your loved one healthy, happy, and safe at home. The Promedcare team of management and caregivers understands the importance of providing care within the comfort of one’s own home. Families choose Promedcare for different reasons. For some, it’s to provide extensive ongoing care for an aging senior. For others, we offer a much-needed break or, respite care – such as a night out with a spouse, vacation, or simply a few hours of quiet time at home – for family members who provide regular care. We offer a wide range of care services customized for each individual client. Promedcare services include Personal Care Services, Companion Care Services, Dementia / Alzheimer’s Care Services, and Respiratory Solutions.
Contact us today to see our Prodmedcare can help you!