About In-Home Care for the Elderly

The golden years can bring about uncertainty about daily activities that were once taken for granted. Home care prevents the elderly patient from going away to a commercial institution such as a group home or nursing facility. If an elderly person is in need of help around the home, a home care aide or caregiver can be brought in to help the patient live independently.

Benefits

• Having elderly family members cared for at home makes them feel comfortable in their own surroundings, and provides a sense of familiarity as new people come into the home to assist.

Housekeeping

• Many caregivers for elders assist with light housekeeping that the patients may no longer be able to do properly, such as dusting, mopping floors and laundry care.

Hygiene Care

• Many aids and caregivers are hired to bathe, groom and dress the elderly patients. This instills self-confidence, keeps the patients clean and less likely to develop sores and infections.

Respite Care

• Caregivers and home care aides can provide simple respite care such as staying with a patient while the family members rest or go on vacation.

Meal Preparation

• Assuring the patient has three meals a day by preparing, serving and cleaning up is a benefit to the patient receiving home care services. Making sure patients take their medicines with meals is also an important factor in overall care.