Due to several factors such as better medical care, the life expectancy for most developed countries is increasing and the elderly population for these countries is also increasing. Some research predicts that by 2050, the elderly population will make up as much as 23% of the total population in the U.S. This significant increase in the elderly population will put certain strains on our society and the need for elder care services will become more dire.
Non-medical Home Health Care As A Solution
Non-medical home health care is quickly becoming one of the most widely utilized solutions to this need for a variety of reasons. A major contributing factor to this is simply that seniors would prefer to spend their latter years in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own home or the home of a loved one. Home health care services provides a viable alternative which many families elect over assisted living facilities. With the assistance of senior home care , a senior may not have to make the transition to a nursing home and can maintain a certain level of independence not afforded by living on their own. These services can assist with the vital tasks of daily living and increase the quality of life and safety for aging seniors who wish to remain at home.
Caregiver Stress
Caring for an aging parent is not an easy task. Caregiving can be a physically, mentally and emotionally draining task and oftentimes requires more effort than a family can reasonably provide. Depending on the circumstances, some forms of caregiving may also require special forms of training. The increase in the elderly population has resulted in millions of adult children having to care for their elderly parent or relatives, even though they may not be properly equipped to do so. The constant back and forth of caring for an elderly loved one and caring for yourself can become extremely difficult to navigate. However, caregivers do not have to face the challenges alone. If you are considering enlisting the help of a qualified home health care agency, keep reading for five worthwhile benefits of senior home care services.
Saving Time
One of the most finite resources we have is time. Caregivers may be juggling a job, the needs of their own family, their caregiver responsibilities and their own needs. This type of schedule can leave any individual feeling drained or “spread too thin.” Home care assistance services allows caregivers to entrust their loved ones to a trained professional so that they can focus some of their time and energy into managing their other responsibilities.
Peace of Mind
Having a professional caregiver provide services in your home will grant you a certain level of peace of mind. Knowing that a professional who is trained to handle any situation that may arise allows caregivers to exhale because they know that their loved one is being cared for by a competent professional.
Social Interaction and Companionship
Regardless of how close a caregiver is to their loved one, there is a certain limit to the amount of socialization that can be provided. Elderly individuals have social needs that can be more easily satisfied by enlisting a professional caregiver. It allows them to have facetime with an individual other than their primary caregiver. A home health aid becomes a nurturing friend to aging loved ones. This type of social support will positively enhance your loved one’s mood and outlook on life.
Maintaining Independence and Lifestyles
Oftentimes, the additional support provided by a professional caregiver allows an elder to maintain a lifestyle that is more similar to what they were accustomed to. Professional caregivers are trained to help keep elders from slipping into depression caused by a lack of independence. As the professional caregiver continues to provide much needed support, an elder will begin to feel more empowered as they become accustomed to their new routine.
Quality of Life
Caregivers eliminate tasks such as chores that have become difficult for an elder to perform. The level of care provided can be dictated by the needs of the individual. Some aging seniors may only need minor, hands-off assistance while others may require more comprehensive, hands-on assistance /supervision.
Don’t Wait To Enlist Support
Caring Hands Matter provides licensed and professional caregivers for families that require additional assistance with an aging parent or loved one. Our central values of professionalism and integrity have made us a trusted provider of non-medical home care services in the Northern Virginia and D.C./Metro areas. If you are interested in learning more about our home care services and how we can support you or your loved one, call us directly or contact us online today.