Here’s the situation: your aging father just had knee surgery and is confined to a wheelchair for the next few weeks. Meanwhile, your mother can barely climb the stairs and is having trouble remembering to take her medication each day. Half the time, the two of them don’t even eat dinner.
You worry constantly and sacrifice whatever time you can to be there for them, but the harder you try, the less present you are in your own life. Between restless nights, canceled appointments, missed events and resentful spouses, you may start to feel resentful yourself. Perhaps it’s time to consider an assisted living center, but how will you ever afford it?
For millions of Americans, this situation is a reality — and one that may be causing undue stress. According to the Home Care Association of America, up to 70% of caregivers report symptoms of depression. With even a little bit of help, caregivers and those they’re caring for can have their emotional needs met. Here’s how in-home medical care can be emotionally beneficial for all parties involved.
A more comfortable arrangement
There truly is no place like home. A recent AARP survey shows that three out of four adults age 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
For your loved one, home is the safest and most familiar spot for them, which may put them at ease and improve their quality of life. The Home Care Association of America also found that home care can improve the physical and mental well-being of patients.
Peace of mind
One of the benefits of having trained medical professionals attending to your loved ones’ needs is that they can closely monitor things like medications so you don’t have to. They’ll also handle bathing and grooming, which can significantly reduce the stress of being a caregiver.
And the service provided isn’t limited to medical needs. As part of the Medicare benefit, in-home health care services, such as Heartwood Hospice, will help take care of light housekeeping and homemaking duties so you have one less thing to worry about. Less time cooking and cleaning means that you can focus on spending more quality time with your family and attending to your own needs.
More personalized care
Sometimes an elderly person just needs someone to talk to. Apart from providing the necessary medical care, in-home health care goes one step further with personalized attention and companionship. It’s not uncommon for home health aides and nurses to become close friends with the families they serve.
With a good home health care service, you can feel reassured that nurses and aides not only care for your loved ones; they care about them as well.
An affordable alternative
With medical expenses being the cause of so much stress for patients and caregivers, it may interest you to know that in-home health care is more affordable than you think.
A survey conducted by Genworth Financial found that while the cost of long term facility care has skyrocketed over the last several years, the charges for in-home care have not risen so steeply. This is good news for all of the adults who prefer to remain in their homes as they age.
Find the services you need
You may have considered in-home care in the past, but wondered if it was too expensive or even possible with all of your loved one’s medical needs — especially if they require 24/7 surveillance. Thanks to technological advancements in recent years, in-home care has come a long way in terms of providing for complex medical needs and is also covered under Medicare.
When it comes to finding the right care for your loved ones, you want what’s best — for everyone involved. If you or someone you love is looking for the best available in-home health care, look no further than Heartwood Hospice.
Heartwood Home Health & Hospice believes the quality of care that one receives at the end of life is just as important as the quality of care that is given at the beginning of life. With a staff of skilled nurses and a comprehensive range of services available 24 hours a day, Heartwood Hospice not only cares for you — they care about you.