Making the decision to opt for home care assistance is something that can cause families to debate for a long time. The choice feels a lot bigger than it really might be, for multiple reasons. There’s a lot to consider and families may have to get real about what they can do and what seniors really need.
Signs It’s Time for Home Care
Seniors may need home care when they start to have trouble moving around their homes safely because this assistance can reduce the risk of falling or injuries. If seniors are showing signs that their eating habits or personal hygiene habits are changing, assistance can make a big difference. Withdrawing from social situations and increasing health issues, particularly ones that lead to hospital stays, can also mean that it’s time for more help from home care providers.
How Home Care Assistance Helps
The big question from many families is what senior home care actually does to offer assistance to aging adults. There are a lot of different ways that home care helps. Care providers can assist with bathing, dressing, and other personal hygiene tasks. They can also help with preparing balanced meals that seniors are excited to eat. They don’t offer medical assistance, but home care providers can remind seniors to take medications and stay on target with exercise goals. Professional caregivers also make great companions for aging adults because they genuinely enjoy spending time with seniors.
Talking About Home Care Assistance
Once families realize that seniors need some extra help, the next step is to bring up the topic with seniors. Surprising them with home care providers may not be the best idea. Talking about what is happening during a comfortable and calm conversation is a good start. Keep the focus on the challenges they’re having and what they need. From there, family caregivers can bring up how home care assistance can alleviate those difficulties. Sharing specific examples is important because it’s concrete and something seniors can start to picture getting solved with this idea.
Moving to the Next Steps
These decisions often don’t get resolved in one conversation. Seniors may need to take some time to think about what comes next. Some seniors like the idea of trying out home care assistance before they commit. That could be the best way to help them to see first-hand how exactly senior home care is going to make their lives easier and better overall. The goal is for seniors to age in place safely and happily, so it’s important that they don’t resent the help they get.
Taking things at a reasonable pace is the best move for family caregivers to make when they realize that their aging family members need some extra help. Home care assistance is something that families can customize to meet their seniors’ needs and preferences. If seniors are only comfortable with help one or two days a week, that might be a step in the right direction. They could make a different decision after a few more positive experiences.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Alamo, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.
