As the population of Americans begins to age, families are more involved with caring for their parents and grandparents. If you are fortunate enough to still have your parents, you are aware of the challenges of providing the appropriate care for them. As families struggle with medical, emotional and physical needs the strain can be overwhelming. Professional care-at-home may be the solution.
We all want to age with dignity and maintain our independence as long as possible. Statistics show that the longer the elderly stay in their homes the better off they are. It means so much to know they can continue to stay in familiar surroundings. It's also important for children and grandchildren to have peace of mind with the way their parents are living.
Aging with confidence, dignity, and independence is a reasonable request. At this stage most people have worked very hard to secure a peaceful and fulfilling life for themselves. Many are capable of doing the everyday chores they need to do, but many are not. Those who cannot manage still deserve to have as much freedom as possible and to maintain their way of life. Professional in-home care is the option more and more families are turning to.
Being able to stay at home can extend the life of a loved one if they are receiving quality care. There are fewer accidents, fewer falls and fewer medical problems. Having help with daily living can reduce stress on all the family members. Sometimes elderly people really just need an extra hand around to cook a meal or help with errands. Needs vary from patient to patient and reliable home care agencies can assess those needs and provide the best possible solutions.
Many senior citizens find that they can manage their lives better and they feel respected and understood by the expert nurses and highly trained individuals that they work with. Patients who have an in-home caregiver say that they are not as depressed and anxious as they were before they had help at home and they get sick less often. Accidents in the home involving slip-and-fall, burns from cooking, and medication errors all of which can be very serious, go down dramatically with the presence of a certified caregiver. Caregivers get to know each patient personally and then asses their living situation and provide whatever care they need.
There are a few companies that have a system in place that will group patients together in such a way as to promote socialization as well as reducing costs for each individual family. If patients can share a nurse then the cost is more affordable and they get the benefit of making new friends and getting to go places together for a more comprehensive experience.
If you consider this option for your family, do your homework and find an agency that will explain in detail what their programs offer. Discuss their fees and definitely ask if all their aides and nurses are certified and insured. Most agencies will offer a free assessment of your loved ones situation. Before you decide, ask a lot of questions and make sure they understand what you are looking for. Find out if some of the costs are covered by health insurance, many times they are.
When you do find the right agency, you will feel like a huge weight has been lifted off you and your life will improve dramatically. Get the professional in-home care you and your family need to live healthier, happier lives.
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