As adults grow older, they begin to struggle with physical and mental health, requiring some form of external support. One of the best options available is home care, but what is it that makes home care so valuable? And how can you provide home care in a cost-effective and comprehensive way?
Source: canva.com
Providing Home Care
Home care is a broad and general term that refers to providing multiple forms of support and care to a person who needs it. The person in question is usually an older adult who is struggling with at least some health issues, but it may also be a person with a debilitating injury.
Home care providers do things like cooking, cleaning, assisting with daily activities like getting dressed and bathing, managing medications, and sometimes even assisting with physical therapy. All of these services are provided in the patient’s house.
There are many options for providing home care. It’s possible to hire a home caregiver independently or through an organization, but many people choose to volunteer as a caregiver for an aging relative in their own life. According to FreedomCare, if you volunteer as a caregiver for a relative or friend, you may be qualified to be paid for the work; however, you’ll have to meet some important criteria before you can do this.
Source: canva.com
Why Home Care Is So Valuable for Older Adults
So why is home care so valuable for older adults?
- Environment familiarity. One of the most important benefits that older adults enjoy when receiving home care is familiarity with their environment. They aren’t forced into the cold confines of a sterile hospital, nor are they forced to acclimate to an unfamiliar assisted living environment. Instead, they get to stay in the same home they’ve known for years, so it tends to be much better for their mental health. Almost all of us enjoy our home more than any other place – so it only makes sense that we would want to receive care here.
- Autonomy and independence. Older adults want to be autonomous and independent. While some may be open to the idea of an assisted living facility or another institution, even cognitively deteriorating adults want to live on their own and make decisions on their own. Having a caregiver at home means they can continue living life the way they see fit, at least to an extent, and they’ll certainly be able to make more decisions for themselves than they would in any other environment.
- Personalized care. There is no true standard way to provide in-home care. Home caregivers are responsible for finding the best approach for an individual’s unique needs. Some patients want to be left alone as much as possible, while others want to talk and spend time together; a good caregiver can provide personalized care that’s perfectly suited to the patient’s needs.
- Reduced costs. Unless you get a volunteer from the family, home caregivers don’t work for free. But they’re still much less expensive than other forms of healthcare. If you compare home caregiving to the costs of assisted living facilities and similar institutions, the choice is a no-brainer.
- Peace of mind for the family. Many families feel more comfortable and more at peace when their loved one is receiving care at home, rather than being confined to an external institution. They know that their loved one is in a safe place, getting care from a trusted provider.
- Faster recovery. If your loved one is struggling with an injury or health ailment, you’ll be pleased to know that patients receiving in-home care are likely to recover faster and more fully than their counterparts. Obviously, some injuries and conditions require hospitalization and more intensive care, but in general, people recover better in an environment they’re familiar with.
- Slower advancement of cognitive decline. Dementia can’t be reliably prevented and it can’t be cured. But it can be slowed down and managed. If a patient is struggling with cognitive decline, receiving home care can help to slow this process and allow them to stay aware and engaging for as long as possible. Home caregivers can guide patients through various physical and mental exercises, helping them remain stimulated and engaged with their environment. This is also an opportunity for social engagement and bonding, which are critical for slowing the advancement of dementia.
- Companionship and socialization. Human beings are social creatures, and we tend to thrive when we have more opportunities for companionship and socialization. As adults get older, it becomes harder for them to find meaningful bonds, since they may be mostly confined to the home and less likely to participate in new activities. Bonding and talking to a caregiver could be useful in this capacity – and caregivers benefit from socialization as well!
- Family connections. Additionally, because the older adult gets to stay in the home they’ve known for years, it’s easier for family members and friends to come visit. Friends, relatives, and other contacts can stop by periodically, stay for a few hours, and help the older adult feel connected and socially stimulated.
Source: canva.com
The Stress of Caregiving
There’s one quick caveat we need to mention here: caregiving can be extremely stressful. You may know the person for whom you’re caring very well, and you may get along with them perfectly under normal circumstances. But in the context of home care, even basic daily activities like getting dressed or bathing can become very difficult and very stressful. It’s even more stressful if you’re working long hours.
Home care isn’t the right choice for every older adult, but it’s objectively beneficial in many situations. And if you qualify, you may be able to provide home care as a family member – and get paid in the process. With home care, older adults tend to fare better, both physically and mentally, and the people providing care to them feel rewarded as well. It’s an arrangement that objectively benefits almost everyone involved.
