More on our Home Senior Care Services

Seniors who are strong enough to live on their own but not enough to perform certain household chores may be in need of in home senior care services. Most elderly individuals prefer to stay in a familiar environment for as long as they can because like most of us, they treasure their independence. This is why it is much easier for them to accept the idea of senior care home than nursing homes. Through some help from a home care provider, seniors can be easily kept in good condition making it possible for them to preserve their dignity and independence.

The cost of in home senior care services is also often less than that of full time nursing homes. This is why it may not be necessary to relocate your senior parents to a nursing home, especially if their condition isn’t serious enough.

There are at least two main types of in home senior care services, namely skilled or custodial care and supportive or unskilled care.

Skilled services are those provided by medical professionals, and these include nursing care, occupational, physical, speech and respiratory therapy, hospice care, social services. A qualified home health care may also provide personal care to seniors during a limited period of time, provided that he follows a certain care plan and he works under the direct supervision of a skilled professional such as a nurse or a therapist. Skilled services are often not provided on a regular basis. The skilled providers have a programmed home visits to their clients based on a treatment plan prescribed by a doctor. Some of the reasons for hiring skilled services are to speed up hospital discharges, prevent unwanted hospitalizations, and allow an elder to remain in his home while he’s recovering from a sickness or during an acute illness.

Meanwhile, supportive services are those provided by non-medical home caregivers. These home care providers offer help to seniors through such personal care as bathing, dressing, grooming, housekeeping, meal preparation, and shopping. Depending on the client or his family’s request, a home care provider can also provide assistance in ambulation and exercises, self-administered medications, and transportation to medical appointments. Custodial or supportive services can be scheduled depending on the need of the client. The services provided often differ in amount and frequency with some lasting from a few hours a week to twenty four hours, seven days a week. Supportive services are aimed at helping an aging person deal with his deteriorating abilities, preserve his independence, and prevent relocation.

Aside from ensuring that your senior loved one is properly cared for, in home senior care services ensure that he maintains enough interaction with the outside world as he grows old. This is important because many seniors who live very far from their family and friends who are not able to maintain regular interactions with other people tend to be isolated and lonely, which can sometimes lead to depression.

Both skilled and unskilled services are intended to provide care assistance to an elderly person right at his own home and often this is better option than institutional care. You can either obtain in home senior care services from a home care agency or hire a private caregiver directly, which is often the less expensive option and allow more possibilities for your participation in the decision making process. This can be the best choice provided that you exercise much persistence and put in more effort in the hiring process.

Although you have to pay for most of the senior home care services, there are some types of senior care and community services that are given for free or donated. If you’re a member of a particular church, for instance, some of your members may voluntarily offer their time to provide some amount of care to your senior parents. There are also government programs or health insurance that can provide assistance in paying for some particular home care services.

In home senior care services can be the best bet not only for elderly people but also for their loved ones. Senior home care or Senior Apartments is the less expensive choice than a full-time nursing facility. Although every family is unique and should decide on the best type of senior care for their elderly loved one, in home senior care services is usually the most affordable and effective option for many families.

In Home Care or Nursing Home?

Many seniors are not satisfied when placed in a nursing home. This is because they want to maintain their dignity by living independently in their own home for as long as possible. If your senior loved one needs any form of care and you’re considering which type of senior care is best for him, then consider providing him independent living services. This is the best type of senior care because it allows an individual to stay in a familiar surrounding while receiving the right care they need.

Often, price and care are great determining factors in choosing the right type of senior care. In home care services do not include charges on hospital or nursing home facilities and equipment so they are usually cheaper and more affordable. Nursing home’s cost varies by state, but in general the expenses are often far above the median income of most seniors. Medicare can only cover a small portion of long-term care. For this reason, seniors who cannot afford the costs of a nursing home can start to consider about hiring in-home care services.

There are more benefits to receiving home care services than staying in nursing homes. For most seniors, the ability to keep certain level of independence can help improve their quality of life as well as their over-all well-being. Besides, not all elders need full-time assistance. Some are still mentally and physically fit to perform daily chores and they only need some help in other areas of their life, such as grocery, shopping, or going to doctor’s appointments. These types of seniors may only need help for a few hours a day. But even those who need constant care may still find it more beneficial to stay in their own home than in a nursing home. Sick seniors who receive in home care services often receive more personalized care than those who stay in nursing homes, where staff has to attend to many people with different levels of needs.

As in-home senior care becomes more and more common, so are the options for you to choose from. The industry involved in providing senior care services has expanded to provide services aimed at enriching your senior loved one’s life by means of a personalized home care services. There are at least three categories of senior care to choose from, namely, personal care, companionship, and home maker services; and the type you choose depends mainly on your senior loved one’s needs.

Personal Care Services

The personal care services provided depend mainly on every individual’s needs. This may include bathing, which is important in making a person feel well and more comfortable. Helping your loved one perform daily activities he needs to remain mentally and physically active is also part of this type of service. Meal planning and preparation for seniors requiring a special diet can also be provided by in-home care providers in coordination with the senior’s health care professionals and family members.

Companion Services

In this fast-paced world, where we often don’t even have time to say “Hi” or wave goodbye to our senior loved ones, life can be very solitary and lonely for them. This is where companion services play a vital role. Having individuals to provide companionship to your senior loved one can greatly enhance the quality of his life. This type of services is typically offered for only a couple of hours a day, or many days in a week depending on the needs of a senior. Services may include conversation, grocery shopping, running errands, medication reminders, and respite for family members.

Homemaker Services

Homemaker services are almost the same services offered by personal care and companion providers. Receiving this type of senior care in home often puts off the need for an individual to be transferred to a nursing facility or allows someone who has been hospitalized to return home much sooner.

Selecting a senior care in-home provider requires probing into the credentials of the individual if you’re hiring directly or an agency’s credentials, should you choose to hire a caregiver through them. Make sure that the service provider you hire is highly trained and qualified to provide dependable care to your loved one. If at all possible, do a background check of the person just to ensure that you’re leaving your loved one in good hands. With the right senior care provider, your loved one can enjoy full freedom and satisfaction while living in familiar surroundings, which is what is lacking in nursing homes.