Deciding the kind of care your senior loved one needs can be an overwhelming experience. As they age, their safety and well-being have become significant concerns. From taking medicines daily to helping them get out of bed, it’s important to know when they need extra help. If you think your elderly loved one requires everyday assistance, but you want to keep them at home, then you should consider in-home care as an ideal option. ust do a quick search for memory care, Denver, or insert whatever city you are in. To help you make the right decision, here are the pros and cons of in-home care for seniors. To help you make the right decision, here are the pros and cons of in-home care for seniors.
Pros:
For seniors who need additional support with most of the day-to-day activities such as cooking, cleaning, and getting out, hiring in-home care services can be ideal. Several organizations provide a wide range of support to help you decide how much assistance you have to organize. Below are the pros of in-home care:
- Offer flexible care at home
With this kind of care option, a round-the-clock care at home is one of its advantages. It’s completely flexible and can be provided based on your loved one’s unique needs. Carers go to your house daily to help them with everything and make sure they get the exact kind of care they need. Services may include preparation of basic meals, help with a shower, buying groceries, and taking them to doctors’ appointments. Indeed, in-home care enables you to support your elderly loved one while they live on their own terms and with independence.
- Support a strong social connection
Another benefit of getting home-based care for your senior loved one is letting them keep in touch with family, friends, and neighbors. With social support at home, you can maintain a familiar environment where they can develop strong social connections with other people. The presence of a regular carer can also offer friendship and companionship as they get to spend some time together at home. In addition to strengthened social networks and family time, in-home care services enable your elderly family member to live a social and active life wherein they can foster a hobby, go shopping, or do an exercise to build strong bones.
- Help ease financial worries
The flexibility of in-home care allows you to save more money. Depending on the situation, keeping your senior loved one at home and providing a carer can be less expensive than placing them in a facility. Unlike nursing home care where an accommodation payment is given to secure a place, there’s no need for bond payment for in-home care. That alone makes this model of care a financially viable option.
- No significant life change to overcome
The good thing about in-home care is that there’ll be no period of adjustment required on the part of your senior family member. This means no trauma may be attached the moment you introduce a carer as normal family interactions continue to boost their emotional well-being. If they’re in a familiar place like home, there’s no significant life change to surpass as they can still get the support they need from their family.
Cons:
Now that you’ve learned about the advantages of introducing in-home care to an elderly relative, it’s time to get to know its disadvantages to help you decide for what’s best for them. Below are the cons of in-home care for seniors:
- Need to install expensive safety fittings
Even if home care may be affordable, your house may need to install safety features for the elderly, which can be costly. These features include chairlifts, railings, and ramps. Depending upon the circumstances, you may be required to have these safety fittings to ensure the safety and welfare of your older loved one.
- Doesn’t trust external support
It’s sometimes difficult for older people to trust someone they have only met for the first time. This situation may make them feel alone and vulnerable, especially if they don’t think the carer is right for them. Consequently, you may be left with no choice but to take care of your senior loved one on your own.
- Inability to enjoy the social side of residential care
For some seniors who love socializing, in-home care services may not be the right option. They may not be able to enjoy some social activities which are offered by most residential care facilities. As a result, they may show signs of dissatisfaction and loneliness.
Conclusion
After considering the pros and cons of in-home care services for seniors, you should be able to decide and choose the kind of care they need for their situation. It’s essential to understand that older people want to be at home to retain independence and keep their dignity and respect intact. That said, you should include them in the discussion to help them become more comfortable in the kind of care they want to receive.