Caregiving is more than a job; for some, it’s a calling. As the adult child of an aging parent, you likely didn’t plan to be the one taking care of a loved one at home. Caring for an aging loved one is demanding and often increases stress. But what’s the solution?
In this blog, we answer a few key questions that adult children like you are asking:
- What is in-home caregiving?
- What are the benefits of in-home care?
- How do I get home care for my mother?
Read on to learn more about in-home care, its benefits, and how to get senior home care in three simple steps.
What Is In-home Caregiving?
In-home caregiving is a service for older adults who need help with daily activities to remain at home. Home care services vary from person to person because some adults may need more support than others. In-home caregivers help seniors with activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs include dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding, and other personal care tasks.
Additional support services include meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, and running errands. These services should not be mistaken for home health care, which includes medical services administered by skilled, licensed professionals. In-home caregivers are well-trained but aren’t approved to perform complex healthcare-related tasks.
In-home care offers a variety of benefits for both older adults and their families.
What Are the Benefits of In-home Care?
Nearly 9 in 10 adults aged 50–80 want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, and in-home caregiving is the solution. However, it’s not always possible or preferable for adult children to become their parent’s caregivers. You may be considering in-home care but unsure how beneficial it is. Below, we’ve listed several benefits of in-home care for senior loved ones and their families.
Benefits of In-home Care for Older Adults
- Provides social interaction
- Fosters greater independence
- Benefits mental health
- Improves quality of life
- Enables them to safely age in place
- Care is personalized
Benefits of In-home Care for Families
- Allows for more quality time with aging loved ones
- Enables adult children to remain children, not caregivers
- Often is more affordable than other care alternatives
- Provides peace of mind
- Offers a safe mode of transportation
- Greater involvement in a loved one’s care plan
You don’t have to be the one taking care of a loved one at home. But you may wonder, “How do I get home care for my mother or father?” Next, we’ve outlined how to get in-home care for a family member in three steps.
How Do I Get Home Care For My Mother?
1. Call a home care agency
Taking care of a loved one at home is a taxing responsibility. Adult children often unintentionally fall into caring for a loved one at home, but they don’t have to. If your aging mother needs help at home to safely age in place, call a home care agency like Stowell Associates (414-348-5035).
When you call a home care agency, you’ll get access to a geriatric care manager who can walk you through the elder care process and recommend next steps. One of the first steps includes scheduling an in-home care assessment.
2. Schedule an in-home care assessment
After you call a home care agency, they’ll want to create a whole-person care plan for your loved one. In order to do so, a senior care manager will need to perform a geriatric health assessment. This in-home evaluation primarily examines your loved one’s ability to accomplish ADLs.
Once the geriatric care manager understands your aging mother’s needs, they can create a holistic care plan that includes the right type of home care. For some loved ones, in-home health care is required, while others only need companionship care to combat senior loneliness.
3. Get the care your parent needs in the home they love
If you need help taking care of a loved one at home, call Stowell Associates at 414-348-5035. We get to know your family and treat them like our own so you feel taken care of, too. At Stowell Associates, we offer geriatric care management and in-home caregiving services in partnership with TheKey.
From elder care consulting to 24/7 support for a loved one’s complex needs, we have a care solution that’s right for you. To speak with a geriatric care manager today, contact us by calling 414-488-6491.
