Top 8 Benefits of Senior Home Care: An Overview

11 Nov Top 8 Benefits of Senior Home Care: An Overview

We discuss all the home care benefits that families and their loves ones should consider when considering the addition of supportive senior home care. Read more for the 8 benefits of senior home care for older adults and for family caregivers.

If you have an elderly parent or loved one, you’ve probably spent considerable time worrying about their future. You may be one of the millions of people providing unpaid help as a caregiver. For many, senior home care is a favorable choice. It is an affordable and safe option that supports the family and allows loved ones to stay within the comfort of their own home. Home care services delivered by professionals can be the difference between a family having caregiver burden and stress to one that is relaxed knowing that their senior loved one in good hands.

8 Benefits to home care for older adults

If you are considering senior home care or actively caring for a loved one, here are 8 ways home care services can support you as a caregiver:

1. Caregivers and home health aides can be there for your loved one when you can’t. Whether providing care with limited availability or caregiving from a distance, home care services offer the benefit of peace of mind. Qualified and caring caregivers can evaluate safety risks and make simple corrections in the home. For example, caregivers can place a non-slip rug in a wet bathroom or ensure clear passages and stairways to mitigate the risk of falls. By proactively ensuring a safe and caring environment, home health aides can mitigate risks and be the first line of defense in maintaining patient health and safety.
2. Home care supports one’s daily activities: Known as activities of daily living, or ADLs,  senior home care lets elders receive daily assistance with personal care needs. One of the core functions of a caregiver, this is one of the top benefits of senior home care. Caregivers help facilitate a better quality of life and dignity for care recipients. More than one third of Medicare recipients receive help with at least one ADL. Examples of activities of daily living may include assistance with feeding, grooming, bathing, and housekeeping. For example, these are are a core support function of Chosen Family Home Care caregivers.
3. Medication reminders: When your loved one is on multiple prescriptions it can be confusing for them to manage. Trying to remember to take their medications at regular intervals can be a struggle. In fact, 55 percent of seniors are non-compliant with their prescription drug orders, meaning that they aren’t taking their medications as prescribed. Professional caregivers can ensure that the right medications are taken at the right times. This can help to control and manage conditions and prevent harmful drug interactions.
4. Support with diet and nutrition. Good nutrition is an important factor in maintaining long-term health. Seniors, those with chronic conditions, and people recently discharged from a hospital or nursing facility are at greater risk of being nutritionally deficient. Aging, illness, and bed rest can contribute to a loss of lean body mass. This can lead to susceptibility of infection and increase the likelihood of falls and bone breaks. Home health aides with Chosen Family can assist by providing essential services such as grocery shopping, meal preparation, feeding, and special diet maintenance to protect your loved ones against malnutrition.
5. Home care professionals provide supportive companionship. Research indicates that seniors stay healthier with social interaction. Home health aides can become reliable friends for activities and hobbies such as walks, cards, games, reading, movies, meals, and other shared activities. Accompanying adults on errands and medical appointments are added benefits that enhance social connections.
6. Home care assists with light household chores. As adults age, the daily demands of housework such as laundry, vacuuming, dishes, and even simple chores become more challenging or even impossible. Caregivers can assist with light household tasks to regularly maintain a safe, healthy, and organized living environment. This brings patients peace of mind that daily tasks are completed for them.
7. Home care recipients have better outcomes. Research indicates that clinical results are comparable or better with fewer complications where home care is provided to individuals with chronic conditions such as pneumonia, diabetes, or COPD. Being in a familiar environment fosters patients to receive the best support in healing both their mind and body. Research even indicates that home care accelerates healing and recovery- demonstrating that elders heal more rapidly at home versus a hospital or nursing home environment. By allowing recuperation at home, there is also a greatly reduced chance of re-hospitalization.
8. Individualized focus and support. Home care services are truly unique, offering meaningful care that builds strong bonds between professionals and patients. By providing one-on-one personal care,  the best home care agencies ensure that individuals and potentially complex medical needs are attended to in a professional and compassionate manner.

For many friends and families, home care is the right support they need to help manage challenging caregiving responsibilities. Plus, they help avoid caregiver burnout and stress. By considering all the benefits of senior home care, you can see how adding services can be a huge relief for families and caregivers in need. With approximately 85 percent of caregivers receiving no respite care, there is a potential for mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. If you or your loved one could benefit from home care services, contact us to learn more.