More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Live-In Care and Assistance A Cost Effective Alternative to Assisted Living
By now many people in the community are familiar with companies that provide in-home care for seniors. Services range from companion care, shopping and errands, transportation to doctor appointments, personal assistance like bathing, dressing and ambulation and medication reminders. Services can be provided on an hourly basis any day of the week or night based on mom and or dad's specific needs.
However, if your parents have moved beyond the benefit of what a few hours a day or week will provide you may be at a point where you are trying to determine what to do next. Safety is usually the most important concern. Can mom and dad stay in their home safely? Should they consider moving to an assisted living facility where they can get the help they need? Should they move in with a family member? What can they afford?
A live-in home health aide is a fast growing cost effective alternative which allows families to have the courage to keep mom and dad home in familiar, safe surroundings. Live-in care has many benefits and can be the answer for those that need daily assistance.
Why It Works
Consistent one on one care by the same individual on a daily basis
A level of trust between the person providing care and the individual(s) being cared for as well as the family
The cost of live-in care matches or may be below that of an assisted living residence for one person. If a couple is involved the cost is half what you would spend on assisted living for both mom and dad to live there
If only one individual needs assistance and their spouse is still semi-independent, live-in care will allow them to stay together at home versus the threat of being split up due to each needing different levels of care
You can fulfill Mom and or Dad's wishes of staying at home as long as possible.
Live-in care provides flexibility. No long-term contracts are needed and care can be started and stopped at anytime. Decisions can still be made to move mom or dad at a later time if health or economic conditions change
Live-in care can be a short-term way to provide time for the family to agree on future care decisions and living arrangements especially if mom and dad need to sell a home.
The live-in aide doesn't actually move in. They only bring what is needed to allow them to be at home since they will be living there.
A critical success factor for a live-in arrangement is the personality match with mom or dad and the dynamics of the family. Go through a reputable agency that specializes in providing live-in care. Personality match, drug tests, background checks and routine nurse supervision by the agency are extremely important. Interview the aide and don't be afraid to try more than one if you feel the person isn't the right fit. The right person is what makes it work.
