When it comes to personal care for seniors, it can be difficult for family members to help as day-to-day life along with the possibility of distance can keep them away. Often the demand for caregiving can cause burnout and exhaustion both physically and emotionally. This can occur when family caregivers don’t get the help they need. Many times, family members take on more than they can handle, and their elderly parents can see this, which cause unneeded stress on them as well.
Home health care is a great benefit over a nursing home. It is also a safe and affordable way that supports both the family and the loved one within their own home. A nursing home takes a senior away from this, along with the one-on-one attention they need and deserve. There are many ways for a home health care professional can support in-home personal care for seniors:
- If you can’t be there due to other obligations, a health care professional can. Sometimes distance and family obligations can keep you away. A trained professional can give you peace of mind without having to worry about whether or not they will get this help at a nursing home.
- Support in life is promoted by in-home personal care. Sometimes your loved ones need help with personal care while preserving their dignity and quality of life. This can include bathing, basic grooming, or even medication reminders. Dignity can be lost at a nursing home as attention is divided among others.
- Your loved one’s diet and nutrition are supported. At a nursing home, you may have to worry if they’re getting what they need. Elderly with chronic conditions or those recently discharged from a hospital are likely to be at risk when it comes to a lack of nutrition. Things like aging, bed rest, illness, and injury all contribute to the loss of lean body mass. In-home personal care may also include nutritional counseling and even home-cooked meals that protect them from malnutrition.
- Health outcomes are comparable and even better with in-home care. Let’s face it, we all do better recovering at home, and the same is for the elderly. Home is a comfortable place with less stress. This leads to faster recovery and better quality of life. Not to mention fewer complications with individuals who have chronic conditions.
- Nursing home and hospital care can be expensive. In-home personal care is an affordable alternative. The average cost of a nursing facility can range at $544 a day while the cost of in-home care is $132 per visit. According to the National Association of Home Care, in-home personal care is not only more affordable but a much better alternative for many families.
When it comes to the quality of life for a loved one and even care, the benefits of in-home personal care outweigh those of a nursing home. The personal care for an aging loved one is paramount to their quality of life and even health.