Essay on Senior Citizens & Home Care Options

Seniors want to hang on to their independence for as long as they can. Many are afraid of being placed in a nursing home, largely because they don't want to lose control over their lives. Most adult children want to help their aging parents stay as happy and fulfilled as possible and hope they can help their parents find the best living situation that meshes well with their needs. This involves learning what senior home care options are available and helping their parents choose the one best for their unique situation and lifestyle.

Home Health Agencies

• A senior's medical needs are primary on the list of services he will need if he chooses to remain living in his home. Home health agencies provide medically-related services such as physicals, daily health-check monitoring, visiting nurses, live-in care providers and even assistance in coordinating visits with multiple specialists such as cardiologists, pulmonary specialists, internists and mental health providers. A home health agency will often will take the scheduling and transportation burden off the senior and keep the senior and his family advised of upcoming appointments and transportation arrangements.

Social Workers and Case Managers

• The prospect of developing a master plan for an aging parent's care can be overwhelming for family members. The Administration on Aging, hospitals and gerontologists employ social workers and case managers to assist seniors and their family members in mapping out which service and care providers are needed by a partially or fully incapacitated older adult. Social workers and case managers also help guide a senior and his family through changing needs as the senior citizen becomes older and, in some cases, more incapacitated.

Pharmacies and Infusion Care Professionals

• Some pharmacies cater to senior citizens and will even deliver their medications. A senior may require nutritional therapies through specially placed tubes. Professionals providing this type of care will come to a senior's home. The case manager coordinating a senior's care will handle the arrangements with the pharmacies and infusion therapy providers.

Durable Medical Equipment

• Most seniors need durable medical equipment, such as oxygen, a blood-pressure monitor and a diabetes tester at some point in their lives. Walkers, canes and wheelchairs are also considered to be durable medical equipment and Medicare and private insurance normally covers the cost of these items. Whoever is coordinating a senior's home care may need to provide help in obtaining authorization for durable medical equipment. Such authorization is often given by one of the physicians or medical professionals handling the older adult's care.

Home Care Helpers

• It can be very difficult for a senior to handle the upkeep of his home. A home care helper is a non-medical professional who will clean a senior's home, do laundry, shop for groceries or other items and make sure that the senior has his everyday needs met. Non-medical services are normally not covered by Medicare but communities often have publicly-sponsored programs for seniors who qualify.