Home Care for the Elderly

Home care for the elderly can allow seniors to "age in community" and continue living in their own home (as opposed to moving to a senior living community). Services available include: assistance with personal care, bathing assistance, grocery shopping, meal preparation, housecleaning, laundry and more.

This article will cover:

• Services Available
• Process
• Cost
• Benefits
• Things To Think About

Services Available

Home care for the elderly takes place in the seniors home and is a customized group of services designed to meet the needs of the client. It includes everything from grocery shopping to bathing assistance.

Personal Care Assistance: Can include assistance with dressing, grooming and toileting.

Medication Management: Includes reminding seniors to take their medication.

Bathing Assistance: Assistance with showering or bathing. Most home care providers require a properly set-up bathroom. Depending on the bathroom design, it can include a tub transfer bench with a hand held shower head.

Grocery Shopping: Includes picking up, delivery and putting away of groceries.

Meal Preparation: Can include chopping vegetables, fruits, cooking and baking.

Laundry: Includes doing laundry, folding and putting away clothes.

Running Errands: Includes running errands on behalf of the senior or taking the senior on errand trips.

Transportation: Includes driving senior to medical appointments, shopping, etc.

Respite Care: Includes having someone stay with the senior and provide the required care during that time so that the usual caregiver (typically a family member) can have a break, run errands, etc.

Palliative Care: Includes most of the above services but specially designed for individuals at the end of life.

Post-operative Care: Includes most of the above services but for a specific block of time (12-24 hours) - when the senior needs assistance the most.

Process

The process typically involves a nurse completing a care assessment with the senior (and usually their family). This includes medical history, social supports, abilities (bathing, dressing, grooming), needs and financial information (if government funded program available).

The senior (and family) and the nurse agree upon a care plan. This can be adjusted as time goes on and ability/needs change.

Care aides are then scheduled and provide services agreed upon. Nurses monitor the implementation of the care plan and make adjustments as needed.

Cost

Depending on where the senior resides, the senior may be eligible for government funded home care for the elderly programs. If not, they will have to pay out of pocket, have their insurance company pay or a combination.

Some government funded programs are on a sliding scale based on income. They typically have a per diem cap as well.

Private pay home care services can cost anywhere from $12 to $50 a visit depending on the length of time and services provided. Bundled services are typically more affordable as the care aide can provide a number of services in one visit.

Senior living remotely may have to pay travel costs for services.

Benefits

The main benefit of home care for the elderly is that the senior can safely remain living in their own home. Family members also gain peace of mind as they feel their loved ones are safe.

Although home care can seem expensive, costs for senior living communities is also high. It is typically more affordable to pay for home care services than move. It is best to compare options before deciding.

The added benefit is the senior's health is being monitored on a fairly regular basis. Medication is managed and risks are reduced (falling in shower, etc.)

Things To Think About

Seniors (and their family members) need to review references and make sure the home care service provider has a good reputation. Ask friends and family for recommendations. Ask the business for references.

Prices may differ but quality is important. A good home care company will likely cost more but their employees and service will be better. You want caring, professional care aides and nurses working with your aging parents.