Choosing the right care option for your senior loved one can be difficult. One major decision you may be facing is whether to use home care or move your loved one into an assisted living facility. More families are opting for in-home care, and here are just a few reasons why.
Seniors’ Own Preferences
Older adults often fear being forced to leave the homes they’ve built over many years. After all, there’s nothing like living in a familiar, comfortable environment to promote greater feelings of wellbeing. If your loved one has always made it clear he or she prefers to age in place, his or her wishes should be honored for as long as possible. In-home care services make it easier to extend how long your parent can live alone, since a caregiver can help with many tasks around the house.
Continuity
Remaining at home can provide your loved one with a comfortable and consistent environment. With the help of an in-home caregiver who grows to understand your loved one’s needs, more structure and continuity can be ensured throughout his or her later years. This can be especially helpful for seniors in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s, when sudden changes can produce high levels of stress.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Fair Oaks Home Care Assistance provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives.
Quality of Care
Though this isn’t true in all cases, some assisted living facilities can vary in the quality of care provided to their residents. Finding a reliable one may require a great deal of research, which can be time-consuming. However, securing a high-quality in-home caregiver can often be simpler in many ways, especially if the agency you’re considering requires its employees to go through extensive screening and training. In-home care also requires less of a commitment than moving your loved one into assisted living.
If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care families can rely on. All of our caregivers are bonded, licensed, and insured, there are no hidden fees, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts.
Expense
The average monthly cost for an assisted living facility is $3,500. For many families, this represents an almost unfathomable financial burden. Because in-home care is offered on an as-needed basis, it generally costs far less and is often calculated based on an hourly rate that’s reflective of local cost-of-living considerations.
Personal Relationships
Many families provide at least part-time care for their loved ones, which can keep their relationships strong, but sometimes family caregivers need other trustworthy people to step in to help when they’re not available. With in-home care, your loved one and a professional caregiver can also develop a personal rapport, which is often absent in an institutional setting. This relationship can provide your loved one with social interaction and a higher level of comfort. For seniors with few friends or family members, an added person to have conversations with may be quite welcome.
Flexibility
Families who provide care for their loved ones still need time to rest and go to work. In-home caregivers are available during flexible hours, including on a part-time basis, which can be valuable to those who are balancing home, work, and caregiving duties. Knowing your loved one is well cared for at home during the times you aren’t available can offer you peace of mind without having to resort to a more costly option.
In Fair Oaks, elder care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (916) 485-4663.