Benefits of Home Care for Seniors
Written by Anna Bullough
Most seniors want to stay at home as they age. And rightfully so – there are many undeniable benefits of aging in place.
As your family member or close friend gets older, they need more assistance to support their everyday activities. And the responsibility of caring for an aging loved one can feel overwhelming.
Many factors contribute to needing at-home care, including:
- declining health
- post-surgery recovery
- or physical disabilities
For all of these situations, hiring home care services for the elderly is a great way to help your loved one maintain independence and health.
For those needing home care services in Northern Utah, talk to a caregiver about the many benefits of home care for seniors in Davis county and Weber county here > >
7 Benefits of Senior In-Home Care
If you’re wondering if aging at home or moving to a senior living facility is the best choice for your loved one, consider these benefits of hiring quality home care.
Maintain Normal Life
More than 90% of seniors want to age at home.
Hiring an in-home caregiver can:
- provide your senior the opportunity to enjoy the comfort of their own home as they age
- provide your senior the care and support they need to stay healthy and safe while living at home
If your loved one feels happier and more comfortable at home but needs additional support as they age, home helpers can make staying at home an option for them.
Also, living in a place that is familiar is not only important for emotional health but can have a direct impact on mental and physical health as well. Research has shown that home care for elderly in their own homes can slow dementia and improve your loved one’s overall mental and physical health.
Provide Safe Transportation
Many seniors feel they’ve lost their independence when they’re no longer able to drive.
Although all seniors will reach a point when they need to hand over the keys for safety reasons, that doesn’t mean they need to be homebound or rely entirely on family for transportation.
Hiring senior care for transportation can:
- give your loved one independence
- allow your loved one to manage their own schedule and appointments
- avoid needing to rely on family or friends for transportation
Transportation services for the elderly help your loved one safely maintain their driving independence.
Companionship and Social Opportunities
If your loved one lives alone, they’re at high risk of developing depression or declining more quickly mentally and physically.
Hiring home companions for the elderly can protect them from these mental and physical risks.
Regular companionship from an in-home private caregiver can provide a familiar face. Your loved one will become quick friends with their elderly companion care provider so they won’t feel lonely. This companion can also accompany them to social events with neighbors and friends or to the local senior center.
This service is especially important when family members live long distances away and can’t visit often.
Personalized Care
While many care facilities offer great services for your loved one, the disadvantages of living in a nursing home include a lack of personalized care.
With at-home care services, your loved one receives one-on-one attention.
This means that your caregiver will come to know the preferences and personality of your senior. And personalized care also means higher quality elderly care.
If you’re looking for someone who:
- won’t rush
- will pay attention to every detail and preference
- will care about what your loved one cares about
hiring excellent home services is the way to go.
Cost Effective
If you need long-term care for elderly, there are a variety of options. But some of those options are much more expensive than others.
One of the benefits of elderly living at home is that it’s cheaper than an elderly nursing home.
You may even have access to government-assisted programs that will help pay for at-home services. Talk with a financial advisor for more details on financial assistance for at-home care.
Pet Ownership
Caring for a pet has a lot of benefits for seniors.
Helping your loved one stay at home means they get to keep their beloved animal.
Pet companionship for seniors can reduce loneliness, calm dementia patients, and can even improve heart disease. And at-home services can help keep the area clean and can ensure the animal is getting good care.
Peace of Mind
If you’re considering at-home care or a senior facility for your aging loved one, you’re probably concerned about their current safety and well-being living at home.
As a senior ages and needs additional support for their daily activities, hiring some form of help becomes necessary.
When your loved one doesn’t want or need the dramatic change of moving to a facility, at-home care can be a wonderful compromise. Hiring elderly care services can give you the peace of mind that your loved one is safe and cared for while giving your loved one the independence and comfort of their own home.
If you live far away from your loved one, these services give you regular eyes and ears in your senior’s home. And if you live nearby, at-home services allow you to remain very involved in your loved one’s care.
Many Other Benefits
These are just a few of the benefits of home care for seniors. But each of these benefits shows the advantages of home care services to:
- Help your loved one maintain independence
- Help your loved one stay safe
- Speed up mental and physical recovery times
- Boost morale and personal dignity
- Provide you a set of helping hands to care for your loved one’s many needs
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of home care services, call Suzy’s Senior Services at 801-540-2077.
We support all elderly or disabled adults in Northern Utah by providing at-home services in:
- Davis County
- Weber County
- Morgan County
- Cache County
- Box Elder County
- Rich County
Types of Home Care Services for Seniors Living at Home
At-home care is personalized to the individual’s needs and can include a variety of services from a single business. Instead of hiring one company to provide cleaning services and another to help with meals, in-home care can support all of your needs from one place. This makes hiring services convenient and easy for you, and consistent and comfortable for your senior loved one.
Here are a few services to consider that will help your loved one be safe and comfortable in their own home.
Housekeeping
You can hire cleaning and laundry services for regular support on a weekly or biweekly basis, or for an occasional monthly deep clean.
Meal Preparation
If you’re concerned about unexpected weight loss or weight gain in your senior, hiring support for meal management can help your loved one have access to a healthy and consistent diet.
Mobility
Safe movement can be a top concern of yours as a loved one ages. Home care providers can reduce the likelihood of falls by supporting transfers and general mobility.
Money Management
Organizing and tracking personal finances can be a chore for your own finances, let alone taking on the financial management of a loved one. An in-home service provider can support you in managing your senior’s budget and tracking bill pay.
Transportation and Shopping
Whether your senior needs to attend regular doctor appointments, play cards at the senior center, or pick up milk from the store, at-home caregivers can help with all driving needs. Avoid leaving your senior homebound or needing to rely on friends and family each time a prescription is ready for pick up by hiring transportation services for the elderly.
Medical Management
Aging often comes with a lot of medications to manage. An at-home helper can track medications to make sure the right doses are taken at the right time. They can also refill all prescriptions on time so you have the confidence of knowing that your loved one is getting what they need when they need it.
Personal Care and Hygiene Services
Many seniors don’t want their family and friends to help with bathing and bathroom needs. Personal care aides can give your senior privacy during these intimate needs. If your senior would prefer to have a trained professional helping with dressing, bathing, grooming, or bathroom needs, in-home care can help them maintain personal dignity.
How to Hire In-Home Help for Seniors
If your aging loved one needs some additional support at home, talk with them about the services that would help them feel comfortable and safe as they age in place.
Contact local companies that provide home care for seniors in your area to find a team that best meets your needs. Your loved one deserves quality care, so feel free to be picky about who you hire. Meet with team members in person and ask if the company performs background checks on its staff.
If cost is a concern, look into government-assisted programs to help fund your needs.
The staff at Suzy’s Senior Services can answer all of your questions and help you make a choice that’s right for you and your loved one – whether you choose to hire at Suzy’s or not. For help navigating any questions or concerns about the benefits of home care for seniors, give them a call at 801-540-2077.