The cycle of life means that every human will get older one day, but before we do, we watch our parents go through the aging process. This can be a challenging and confusing time. You want to ensure your parents stay safe, healthy, and happy as they live in their senior years. It is necessary to make decisions with the whole family involved, including your parents - how much assistance do they need? Are they able to do some tasks for themselves? Do they need to be in assisted living? Would they be happier to age at home with in-home care? Read on to learn about the benefits of in-home care for seniors.
Benefits of In-Home Care 
Deciding whether your loved ones should age in place with at-home care or move to an assisted facility or nursing home is a huge decision. Here are six of the many benefits of in-home care for seniors to help you decide!
Home Care Provides Convenience
Hiring in-home care for seniors is a huge convenience for seniors -you don't have to deal with the hassle of packing up belongings, selling furniture, the sale of a house, or the move to a nursing home. There is no adjustment period to the new lifestyle. Remaining at home is more convenient and comfortable for family and friends to visit. Your parents and loved ones know everything around the house - where the nearest hospital is, the grocery store, and everything else they need. Remaining at home means that the caregiver comes to the patients, not the other way around, which is far more convenient than uprooting the elderly at this stage of life.
Benefits to Mental Health and Cognitive Abilities
We are all very attached to our homes, especially those of us who have been in the same place for a long time. Seniors often have lived in the same house with the same routine for years; changing this can often cause cognitive decline and deterioration of their mental health through anxiety about the changes and depression from being out of their comfort zone. Additionally, moving out of their known world can harm memory function. The stress, uncertainty, and newness of a change in living situation can cause the onset or rapid progression of memory-related diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. In-home care for seniors allows them to remain in their much beloved, known lives, and the lack of changes helps them when facing potential cognitive decline.
Home Care Provides Potential Money Saver
No matter their location, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are costly. This expense can drain any elderly person's hard-earned and saved finances, potentially placing a monetary burden on the immediate family. In-home care for seniors can provide a much more personalized relationship and experience at an affordable price. Care at home is often charged by the hour or need instead of a flat monthly fee, saving you money in the long run.
Increases Family Involvement
Care homes vary widely in quality, and often you cannot find adequate assisted care places for your family members in your area. This means you might need to relocate your loved ones to a different community or even across state lines. Ultimately, this makes it very challenging for you, the rest of your family, or any friends to visit or be involved in your senior's care. In-home care for seniors eliminates this issue, allowing your seniors to receive the attention, consideration, and support they need in place. With at-home care, you can visit your family member as much as you want - no signing in, visiting hours, or limitations of access. This helps you be more involved with the daily decisions and increases the quality of life of both you and your loved ones.
Home Care Helps Personalized Needs
Throughout life, every individual has different needs. Not every care home or senior living community can cater to each of these specific needs. Luckily, in-home care can handle almost any special request! Home care is tailored specifically to assist with any particular care and support your senior might require. At-home caregivers provide one-on-one attention and are attuned to their patient’s lifestyles, challenges, and medical needs. They develop a daily, strong relationship with the patient is far better for your senior's well-being than nursing home workers who clock in and out for each shift.
Fosters Independence
Autonomy is vital to aging seniors. You may see your loved one declining and fear that they are completely unable to care for themselves. Although they may be less able to perform certain tasks, there are likely still many daily tasks they can perform. Retaining the freedom to continue with activities, hobbies, and social life is paramount to an enjoyable, valuable life. The in-home care for seniors team will visit as often as required to provide needed assistance. This provides medical attention and help with daily tasks yet allows the elderly to continue their lives, likely prolonging their lifetime and enjoyment. If a senior has a pet, in-home care is ideal because they can keep and care for their pet, which can lead to positive physical and psychological benefits.
How Home Instead Can Help
Are you looking for more information on in-home care for seniors in your life? Home Instead is here to help! We are experts in planning tailor-made options for at-home senior care with a compassionate touch. Our locally owned Kennewick, Washington business offers friendly, responsive service, thoughtful advice, and years of experience. Visit our website and schedule an in-home care consultation by filling out this online form. Our team will contact you with more information. We look forward to working with you to provide the best possible in-home care for seniors in your life.
