Live Well at Home Blog

There’s No Place Like Home – In-Home Care As An Alternative Choice

“I don’t want to have to move out of my home.”

If you are the adult child of a senior parent, you’ve probably listened to your loved one exclaim these words or a similar statement indicating his or her intention to continue to grow older in place at home versus moving out of a house or to a different facility. Reality is, many older individuals want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible – for various reasons. Home is the place they’ve lovingly created, so it’s where they feel the most comfortable. Remaining at home also gives meaning and purpose to one’s life. Tasks as simple as looking at one’s personal belongings, reading the mail, or sitting on the deck are more meaningful in one’s own home than in an unfamiliar place because it is the dwelling that creates the framework of one’s life. The comforts of home provide a sense of peace and privacy that are irreplaceable.

Many people are under the false premise that facing a move to a higher level of care is inevitable at some point for the elderly. Is it really possible to grow older safely and independently at home? Surprisingly, in-home care can be a long-term, feasible option for many. Remaining at home not only provides the comfort of familiar surroundings and independence from structured schedules, but per Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, home care can be a more economical option as well.

To find out if your senior family member could benefit from the support of a skilled in-home caregiver, begin paying attention to the level of functioning in the following two areas:

• Review Activities of Daily Living Needs: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are basically activities that individuals participate in each day. These activities are essential to caring for oneself and preserving independence, such as bathing, getting dressed, getting in or out of a chair or bed, using the toilet, eating and getting around or walking.
• Look at Instrumental Activities of Daily Living: These are activities related to independent living and include planning and preparing meals, managing finances (writing checks, paying bills), shopping for groceries or personal items, maintaining a residence/performing housework (e.g. laundry, cleaning), taking medications, using a telephone, handling mail and traveling by way of car or public transportation.

Is home care possible for your older loved one? Live Well at Home can help you decide. Our compassionate and highly qualified staff can present the options for care and the pros and cons of each choice for your loved one’s particular needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services for in-home care in Roseville.