Seniors Maintaining Independence

By Bob Brueckman, Owner

BrightStar Care

. http://www.brightstarcare.com/

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Seniors Maintaining Independence

Having a caregiver come into the home on a full or part time basis to assist a senior can be a great way to delay the need for the eventual move to an assisted living facility or nursing home. The difference is that your loved ones, which might be your parents, spouse, aunt, uncle or friend, can stay in their homes longer and continue to maintain a more independent lifestyle with daily or recurring help from a caregiver. Most individuals want to stay at home as long as possible. Home care provides the opportunity to extend the amount of time someone has at home with family and friends, near their lifes possessions, enjoying hobbies or just to stay in a familiar and safe environment. The cost, which is usually a main concern, is a fraction of other options.
So, why dont more seniors and families utilize home care assistance as a step before considering assisted living or a nursing home? Many seniors who could benefit look at home care as something negative. Many times their first reaction is “I dont need a babysitter!” or “What is this person going to do while they are here? I dont need that much help.” What they dont realize is that their family members are worried about their safety and probably have a better view of what they are capable of handling on their own than the individual themselves.
From a seniors point of view the loss of independence, inability to do things they used to do, the ability to remember or verbalize things that used to come to them quickly in the past, causes anxiety and depression. The thought that they need to be taken care of or need assistance with activities of daily living enlists fear of the future and where they will end up. The result is that they fight the thought that they need assistance.
What they dont realize is that getting additional help in the home will help them stay at home. If they refuse outside assistance the family is left with very few options. Many times the family will take on the care themselves and end up taking on too much responsibility, suffer emotionally and physically not to mention the potential negative impacts on their own personal relationships.
The message to your loved ones regarding home care assistance should be positive in that it will allow them to continue to live and age in place whether it is their own home or in yours. Keeping them out of a facility for a little longer will make them happier and will save money for future medical or long term care costs. Home care is not the right answer in every situation but it should be a consideration as an option with very positive benefits.