Five Benefits of Full-Time Home Care
Family members and friends are often relied upon to take care of an elderly loved one. While it’s a top priority, other commitments – whether personal or work-related – can get in the way of continual senior care. Scheduled visits and/or part-time home care services can assist, but over time there may be signs a senior needs constant care, especially as a progressive illness affects physical and cognitive functions.
If you’re a member of the sandwich generation, you’re familiar with this scenario. Your immediate family and work responsibilities may limit your ability to provide round-the-clock care for an older adult’s escalating care needs. A retirement home may pop into your head as a solution, but it’s not the only option.
Full-time home care provides a high-quality level of support while helping your senior loved one age in the comforts of a familiar place – home. Elderly companionship from a trusted home care professional offers emotional and physical benefits that retirement homes or assisted living communities have a hard time providing.
Benefits of Home Care
Discover how full-time home care can offer the following unique benefits that support your senior’s quality of life and provide respite relief for your family.
- The Gift of Aging in Place
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), home matters to maturing adults, with roughly 90% of American seniors wanting to stay at home as long as possible. Full-time home care enables seniors to live with dignity in the comfort of their own home. The familiar sounds and smells of home helps keep seniors connected cognitively and even increases memory for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Moving to new surroundings can cause the elderly to become disoriented and anxious, especially those in the early stages of dementia. Visiting Angels provides more insights into When In-Home Care is a Superior Option to Nursing Homes.
- Increased Peace of Mind
Full-time home caregivers provide constant care in a senior’s favorite place, and their happiness at home can give you much-needed peace of mind, enabling you to better concentrate on your job, family, and self. Without this professional service, family caregiving can be quite stressful and caregiver burnout may result if you don’t get a break. When you and other family caregivers need time to refresh by taking a day off or going on vacation, respite care or switching to full-time home care ensures that the special senior in your life receives the best care services day and night in their home.
- One-on-One Care and Companionship
You want your elderly loved one to get the best support 24/7. Full-time home care ensures your senior receives personalized, one-on-one care without distraction. You never have to worry if they miss a meal or medication, spend limited time outside of the bedroom or wearing unclean clothes. Full-time home care assures seniors receive the right services at the right time throughout the day and night - based on an individualized care plan. Your aging parents will bathe in privacy in their own bathroom. They’ll eat their favorite foods in their sunny kitchen with the companionship of a caregiver. Close friendships often build between a professional caregiver and senior in the home that strengthens communication and trust while preventing loneliness.
- Safety and Comfort
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 28% of nursing home residents suffer from bedsores, while 1-3 million infections occur every year in U.S. long-term care facilities. By understanding and addressing the specific needs of the elderly, full-time home care ensures safer living conditions and treatment. The threat of infection dramatically reduces with only the caregiver and senior residing in the home. At the same time, a nighttime caregiver is alert to aging adults who need bathroom assistance or wander due to dementia after dark. With eyes and ears on your loved one on a 24/7 basis, safety and comfort is emphasized by decreasing the chance of falls, soiled clothes, bedsores, infection, and neglect.
- Customized and Specialized Services
When contracting full or part-time home care, services are tailored to the health status of your elderly loved one. Through regular assessments, a recognized home care agency, such as Visiting Angels, provides a continuum of care that addresses both emotional and physical needs throughout the progression of a disease. Assigned caregivers have the right blend of knowledge, experience, and skills to provide more specialized care associated with dementia, Alzheimer’s, chronic conditions and even end-of-life situations. The home care agency and staff often provides valuable insights and tips to family caregivers. Your loved one can receive customized care in the comfort and security of home without moving into expensive, specialized facilities.
Full-Time Home Care Options
While often considered one type of full-time home care, live-in and 24-hour care are two different options.
- Live-in Care
While always present in the home, the live-in caregiver is entitled to an 8-hour break for sleep. Typically, two caregivers provide round-the-clock service, with one working during the week and the other on the weekends. This care is ideal for seniors who sleep through the night and don’t need supervision to ensure their safety.
- 24-Hour Care
A 24/7 live-in caregiver is always awake and on-the-job, ready to care and provide assistance. Two or more caregivers rotate shifts daily to ensure continuous coverage. This advanced level of care is recommended for individuals who wander or pose a threat to themselves because of their physical and mental state.
Live-in and 24-Hour Care can serve as a permanent or temporary solution for seniors recovering from surgery or families that need coverage while vacationing. For potential financial assistance, check out Medicaid benefits as well as the Medicare Waiver Programs that support seniors with special needs.