Watching loved ones get older can be hard. You know it’s a natural part of life, but seeing their health deteriorate can be heartbreaking. They may also lose some of their mental faculties. Many people choose to try to keep their aging family members at home during the later years of their lives, and with good reason. Many seniors do much better at home, and you can all enjoy time together while you still have it in a familiar environment. However, caregiving can become difficult as your loved one’s needs grow.
You may be able to provide the care they need, but that may change as time goes on. There will be increased healthcare needs, for example. There are also things like physical therapy and making sure that they take their medications. Over time, this can take an immense toll, both in terms of stress and in terms of time.
There are a few options for the elderly when it comes to their care during later years. They can live in a retirement home, which will offer limited medical and healthcare services along with group activities and recreation. A nursing home is almost an extension of a hospital, in that it has a heavy emphasis on the health and well-being of residents. The other option is having your loved one cared for in their home. This would mean that your loved one will grow old at home in a place they are comfortable. Here are the top reasons why a caregiver might be the solution for your elderly loved ones.
It Costs Less
The other option beyond your aging family member staying at home is that they go to a retirement home or assisted living facility. These facilities can be very expensive. You get charged for around the clock care, plus the provided meals, medical treatments and personnel, security, and everything else that is involved with assisted living.
However, by investing in at-home care, you will save on many of those costs. Since they are at home, you or the caregiver can shop for food, clip coupons, and take advantage of sales. Utilities will always correspond with the usage in the home, and many seniors have already paid off their mortgages, meaning that there is no rental or monthly fee.
That said, you should always balance the safety and health of your seniors with the costs. If they are better off in a facility, then you should do whatever you can to get them admitted to one.
It Can Be Easy to Find a Caregiver
The thought of finding caregivers for your loved one may be stressful. It’s hard to know who you can trust to take proper care of them, and whether they have the expertise you need. However, there are services to help find senior care experts like Caregiverlist that will help you find the right people in no time. You can do it all online, and know that they are trustworthy and have the skills to properly care for your loved one. By using search filters, you can find caregivers that meet your specific, unique needs that will also meet your budget. In the span of a few clicks, you will have set up excellent care for an aging senior.
These services can also provide recommendations for nursing homes and retirement facilities. After answering the questions related to the care you are interested in, you can get recommendations from experts for what type of care would truly be best for your senior.
Exercise and Activity
When people retire, or if their partner or spouse has passed on, they can lose interest in getting out and being with other people. However, one of the best ways to stay healthy and fight off the effects of aging is by being active. For the family of a senior, this can not only be time consuming and difficult, but you may not be an expert at what exercise or activity is the most appropriate.
The right caregiver will be able to get your loved one out of bed or off the couch and doing something productive for their health. It may be a walk around the block every day, or it could be playing some light sports with other seniors. A caregiver, whether at home or in a facility, will be better able to assess the physical limitations of your senior and get them doing exercises and activities that are right for them. If you do not plan for this, your loved one may be sedentary for too long, and their health may have already deteriorated.
Meals and Nutrition
Along with exercise, what your loved one eats is incredibly important. As they get older, they may not have the energy, or they may forget to make meals and eat. With a caregiver, they will make sure that they eat at appropriate times. Not only that, but they can ensure that they are getting the nutrition they need to maintain health as best as possible. Aside from not eating, many seniors resort to fast food and other unhealthy convenience options if they do not have the energy to make their own meals.
Don’t take for granted that your elderly loved one will continue to live the same well after retirement. At some point, they will need care of some kind. To make sure that the transition is seamless, make sure that you have weighed all of the options and chosen the one that’s right for you, and right for your loved one.