If someone close to you is aging and could use some assistance, trying to decide on the right care option may seem like a daunting task. Though friends and family members may do what they can to help out, sometimes extra care is necessary to make sure your loved one is getting their needs met. In this type of situation, it may be time to consider enlisting a professional caregiver.
When it comes to choosing between placing your loved one in a residential care facility or finding a reputable care service to assist your family member at home, there are a number of important factors to consider. There are a several real advantages to keeping your loved one in their own home as long as possible. We’ll consider some of these in this series of articles.
Home Care Allows Your Loved One to Stay in Familiar Surroundings
Simply getting to stay at home can make a positive difference in an elderly person’s quality of life. Many aging senior citizens show extreme resistance to the idea of moving out of their homes. This comes as no surprise. Making a move to a new residence can be stressful at any stage of life, but it can be especially difficult for people who are dealing with physical, mental, and emotional impairments associated with aging.
Instead of having to uproot and get used to a whole new home environment, neighborhood, and routine, staying at home will give your loved one a sense of comfort and security. Dementia patients who stay at home often become less easily confused than those who are taken away from their homes and placed into an unfamiliar area and routine. They may also benefit from getting to keep a beloved pet that may not be welcome at a residential care facility.
Home Care Can Be Customized to Meet Your Loved One’s Individual Needs
Care facilities have to cater to all of their residents. As a result, their routines tend to be less flexible than the type of personalized care that you can expect from a quality home care provider. An attentive home caregiver can adjust to your loved one’s schedule. You can set up a plan that offers just the right amount of help, whether it be occasional, daily, or round-the-clock care. You can also opt for specific services to be performed only at certain times, whereas there may be more of a rigidly set schedule at a residential care facility.
Home Care May Allow for Accelerated Recovery Times
Many patients who have had illnesses or surgeries that require recuperation tend to bounce back more quickly and see better results if they are able to be at home during their recovery period. This could be attributed to the emotional boost which patients get when they’re in a familiar setting as well as the desire to get back to regular daily life. There’s also less of a chance for the patient to end up getting an infection than they would in a hospital that’s filled with other sick or injured patients. During a time when the immune system may already be compromised, the less exposure to germs, the better.
These are just a few of the many reasons why you may want to consider in-home care instead of a residential care facility for your aging loved one. In our next article, we’ll look at several more factors that make in-home care a desirable option for many seniors who could use extra help.
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