A poll from the University of Michigan in 2022 found that over half of adults aged 50 or older have helped with at least one care task for another adult over the age of 65. Whether these tasks were health related, personal, or anything else, they all represent a significant investment of time, energy, and emotion for the person giving the care, even if they love their charge very much and have given their help freely.
If you find yourself included in this group of older adult caregivers, you may be asking yourself ways in which you can lighten your load. After all, as much as you care for your loved ones and want them to be well cared for, doing so yourself can get in the way of living your own life and fulfilling your own familial and professional needs. One option for providing the support your loved one needs is in-home care.
In-home care doesn’t mean that your loved one is no longer able to do things. In fact, quite the opposite. In-home care can help them to safely and enjoyably continue doing the things they love. Approaching the subject and having this conversation with your loved ones is never easy. But with a little forethought and preparation you can engage in an open dialog that will help satisfy everyone’s needs.
In-home care can provide flexible service, allowing you to suit it to your needs. It can include both hands-on help with things like hygiene and mobility, or hands-off help like transportation, shopping, cooking and housekeeping. Work with your loved one and the care agency to form a plan that meets their needs today and can adapt to the future.