Advantages of Personal Home Care for Seniors

Providing care for senior citizens is an issue for many families in the United States. Data suggests that there are more than 65 million Americans who try to juggle work, children, home and caring for a person who is disabled, aging or ill. There are also families who are separated by thousands of miles – children, parents, and grandparents often live in different states, hundreds or thousands of miles apart, so care is difficult to provide. The demands of providing high quality, permanent care are often too much for these families and they need help. The risks are massive if the caregiver is not well trained or prepared to help – physical, mental and emotional exhaustion is very common. 

Luckily, there is help. Personal home care for seniors is the right choice for families who are simply overwhelmed by this problem and see no way out. Personal care services offer high-quality home care for seniors who cannot take care of themselves but also help families that simply can't handle this type of work. There are a lot of advantages to acquiring assistance from a personal home care provider – let's take a closer look at some of the main reasons why you should.

Home Health Care Professionals Are Always There Whenever You Need Them

Caring for an older person is very difficult if you have to also go to work. Home health care professionals can help you whenever you need it and they are always available. They can offer qualified assistance when it comes to long term care and can handle your personal needs, no matter what they are. They are properly trained and qualified to asses risks, make suggestions for improvements in your home and recommendations for ambulatory assistance. They are there to help you, and they can offer guidance.

They Offer Support For Activities Of Daily Living

Seniors can often find it very difficult to take care of themselves and handle the activities of daily living. These include eating, drinking, bathing, getting dressed and undressed and so on. These activities may seem simple, but if you have limited mobility, they can be very difficult to master. Home care professionals can offer help, preserving their dignity and maintaining a good quality of life. Also, the risks of falling or injury are reduced. Services can also include grooming, medication management, and reminders and personal shopping or housekeeping.

Skilled Nursing Services – Whenever Needed

Personal home care is much more than providing help with bathing or house chores. Licensed nurses can also offer professional medical care and assistance for seniors who need it. They are trained to work with high-tech medical equipment and can handle basic medical procedures. Home health services are very important for seniors who are recovering from a medical procedure or have to be kept under surveillance.

Support With Nutrition And Diet Plans

This service guarantees that seniors receive proper nutrition and follow a good diet plan. This is important as most seniors ignore their nutrition and don't pay attention to their dietary needs. This is potentially dangerous, especially if they suffer from chronic diseases, like diabetes, heart disease or neurological conditions. Diet is also important for seniors because their level of activity is lower. The risks associated with falls and injuries are also higher, so a better diet can help avoid injuries and the risk of malnutrition. A home care assistant can also help with cooking and grocery shopping, so access to high-quality food is not an issue anymore.

Medication Management

Medication can be confusing to manage for a lot of seniors. This personal home care service guarantees that seniors get the proper medication, when and how they need it, according to a doctor's plan. Getting the right medication according to the strict schedule helps avoid and prevent serious health conditions or harmful drug interactions.

Companionship

Home health care professionals can also offer companionship for seniors. This is very important for their mental health and well-being, offering protection against social isolation, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues. Research has shown numerous times that seniors remain healthy for much longer if they are among close family and friends. Social interaction means a lot for seniors and can help them enjoy numerous other activities, like reading, playing cards, games, watching movies or going for walks. Meals are also more enjoyable when companionship is provided. Having company while doing errands is also very beneficial – shopping, medical appointments or just going to the post office is much more fun when having someone to talk to.

Help With Household Chores

Housekeeping, laundry, vacuuming, washing dishes or other simple chores become very difficult to master when we are older. Help is often needed even for the simplest of tasks. Luckily, personal care services offer this type of service for seniors who need it. It helps avoid risks, keeps the house clean and welcoming, helping seniors enjoy their surroundings. A clean, neat home creates a relaxing environment for seniors.

Home Health Patients Have Better Prospects

Extensive research has shown that seniors who receive good home care services have better overall prospects. They have better health outcomes, are happier and will live longer. There are fewer medical complications from chronic diseases, the risk of accidents is lower and chronic diseases evolve slower. For instance, conditions like pneumonia, diabetes or COPD are rarer for people who receive these services.

Pet Ownership

Some seniors are worried that if they can no longer take care of themselves, they must part with their beloved pet. While this may be true in certain situations, your home care assistant can help you care for your pet if you find it difficult. Pet companionship is extremely beneficial for seniors or for people who are recovering from medical intervention. They help ease loneliness, calm dementia or Alzheimer's patient and reduce the risks of heart disease. Pets are awesome for most seniors and your personal care services provider can help you take care of it.

If you or a loved one is in need of some assistance, consider acquiring aid from a personal home care provider. It’ll be the best use of your resources while ensuring your loved ones are expertly taken care of.