As people get older, they may need assistance with tasks they were once capable of handling on their own. It can be very distressing when a senior realizes that they cannot do everything they once did, and their loved ones may struggle with the decision about how best to get them the help they need while still respecting their independence.
One study found that more than half of all seniors will need some type of in-home care and services. The degree of help they need varies dramatically, with some needing strict supervision when it comes to medication and self-care and others just needing some companionship and help with transportation and shopping.
Many elderly people do not want to sacrifice their independence or give up their home, and this has given way to a rise in services aimed at helping people age in place. There are lots of organizations and businesses offering at-home senior services, which means that family members who are looking for someone to help their elderly loved one have plenty of choices. Here is a look at the main factors to consider when deciding which is the right at-home senior service for your loved one.
They Can Meet Your Loved One’s Needs
One of the most important criteria is the ability of the senior service to meet your loved one’s needs. Here are some of the home care services you might encounter.
Personal Care
A personal care senior service can help your loved one with activities of daily living, such as bathing, meal preparation and dressing. These services may be available around the clock or for a few hours a day depending on what degree of assistance your loved one needs.
Transportation
Many older adults find it difficult or frightening to drive. Senior transportation services can help elderly people prolong their independence and maintain their social network by enabling them to get from place to place.
Day Programs
Adult daycare is another good option that keeps your elderly loved one busy with activities and socialization throughout the day so that caregivers can have a break to tend to their job, family or other responsibilities. Some of these programs may be mostly social, while others specialize in certain types of disorders, such as early-stage dementia.
Consider what your loved one needs most right now, and use that as your starting point. For example, if your mother is still enjoying cooking and staying on top of housework but feels uncomfortable driving, an organization like Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia that offers senior transportation services could be a good choice. This organization and others like it offer a variety of services aimed at people who need occasional help rather than around-the-clock care.
If your loved one has specific concerns, such as mobility issues or dementia, choose a senior service that has personnel qualified in these areas to ensure your loved one gets appropriate care for their situation. Ask what their experience level is in cases that are similar to that of your loved one. If you think that you might occasionally need someone to stay overnight or help them with bathing, these are all concerns you need to bring up when looking at services.
Household Maintenance
Some services are aimed at elderly people who have trouble keeping up with the daily running of their household. For example, these services may help with gardening, housekeeping, shopping, laundry or handyman services.
Find Out About Training For Their Senior Service
An important factor to weigh when considering senior care services is the employees’ training and experience. You will also want to ensure that everyone who will come into contact with your loved one has passed criminal background checks.
Ask the services you are looking into about their hiring and screening process. Find out whether their caregivers are insured and whether the senior service requires caregivers to undergo any type of training. If your loved one has regular medical concerns, find out about any nursing or medical qualifications that caregivers have earned.
Ask About The Cost Of Senior Service
Be sure to discuss the cost of your loved one’s care with representatives of the services you are considering. Many community organizations are run by volunteers and offer services such as companionship, transportation and grocery drop-off free of charge to the elderly people in their area. Find out what types of services are available in your community and make sure you take advantage of them.
If you are looking for around-the-clock care, senior daycare, or caregivers with medical training, the costs can add up quickly. The agency should be able to give you a detailed list of costs and discuss how much, if any, of these expenses your loved one’s insurance will be able to cover. In some cases, Medicare may cover some of the expenses.
Get In Touch With Shepherd Center Of Northern Virginia For Senior Service
Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia helps older adults in our area to age in place through a variety of services aimed at enhancing their well-being while respecting their independence. Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help your elderly loved one through offerings such as our friendly caller and visitor programs for seniors, Adventures in Learning courses, food pickup and delivery, minor home repairs, senior citizen transportation and health advocacy.