If you are thinking about taking care of elderly parents at home, now is the right time to begin thinking and planning about long-term care. There are many people, particularly in America, who wish to age at home. For some seniors, living independently needs a little extra help, and they may benefit from one or more types of home care.
Home care includes any professional support services that enable a person to live safely in their home. It can also be called in-home services. These can help people who are aging, managing chronic health issues, recovering from a medical setback, or has special needs or a disability to live independently in their own homes. Also, not all people who receive in-home care are chronically ill or injured. In fact, a lot of older adults just require help with everyday tasks.
If you are planning to get some in-home care services for your loved ones, there are various types that you can choose from. If you need help in deciding which type is best for them, you’re in the right place. In this post, we are giving you an infographic on the different types of in-home services for seniors.
At-Home Physician Care
At-home physician care is also referred to as medical house calls for seniors. It is a type of in-home service for seniors that can be customized depending on the patient’s needs. Medical home visits can be utilized to give everything from preventive medicine to management of complex chronic conditions. It can be done by various medical professionals, such as primary care physicians, therapists, and more.
Who Qualifies for an At-Home Physician Care?
This type of in-home service is best for older adults who have mobility problems like disability or injury. It can also be a good option for those who lack transportation or access to transportation. Seniors who have mental health problems or memory problems like Alzheimer’s and those with multiple chronic conditions with complex management may also benefit from at-home physician care.
Benefits of At-Home Physician Care
One of the main benefits that you can get from at-home physician care is that it helps keep older adults out of hospitals, emergency rooms, and nursing homes. Aside from that, this service is also more personalized compared to the care that most patients get in a doctor’s office or hospital. It’s because many doctors see 20 or more patients a day, and each visit is very quick. But with at-home physician care, the treatment is brought directly to the patient, becoming more personalized.
The treatment is customized to the medical needs of the patient. With this, both the older adults and their loved ones will have peace of mind knowing they are being cared for at home. It is also a great option for those who live far from any hospital or medical office, as it gives them the opportunity to receive routine care.
In-Home Nursing Care
Nursing care is the most common form of home health care for seniors. It is issued by registered nurses and nursing assistants. It is also referred to as long-term nursing or home-based skilled nursing. This type of in-home service often gives more specialized medical care to older adults, such as monitoring vitals, administering shots, and dressing a wound.
In-home nurses can perform various services depending on the needs of the patient. Some may be basic services like trimming nails, helping to administer medicines, and assisting with bathing. But there are also services that are more skilled, like caring for seniors who have a catheter, tracheostomy, or colostomy. They may also help in facilitating healing in long-term wounds that need frequent dressing.
Who Qualifies for a Nursing Care?
In-home nursing care is perfect for seniors who need medical care for chronic conditions or disability. If your loved one has a chronic condition, injury, or disabilities and you do not want them to go back and forth to hospitals for care and treatment, in-home nursing care is a good choice. This way, they will be cared for by registered nurses at home until they become better.
Benefits of Nursing Care
One of the best benefits of in-home nursing care for seniors is the comfort that it offers. Your loved one can stay at home, which is the most comfortable and familiar place to them, as they get cared for their medical needs. They can sleep in their own bed and use their own bathroom rather than staying in a hospital for treatments. In addition to that, the nursing care that they will receive is customized to fit your family’s needs. Whether they need only a few hours of assistance in a day or require full-time live-in care, it is a flexible choice.
Based on research, patients can recover from surgery and illness faster and more successfully at home. There is also a decreased risk of acquiring infection from exposure to germs in a medical facility.
In-Home Occupational & Physical Therapy
Due to aging, illness, or injury, some older adults need additional help when it comes to relearning specific motor skills. Impaired range of motion and speech can benefit from various types of specialized therapies. There are in-home occupational and physical therapy services that allow physical therapists to visit older adults at home to perform physical, occupational, or speech therapy methods.
Who Qualifies for In-Home Occupational & Physical Therapy?
An in-home occupational and physical therapy is perfect for seniors who have weakened speech and range of motion due to aging, injury, or illness. This is a perfect in-home service for older adults who find it difficult to go to clinics for therapy or do not have access to transportation.
Benefits of In-Home Occupational & Physical Therapy
One of the biggest benefits of hiring an in-home occupational therapist is that they can aid in modifying the home of an older adult and help him or her recover from an injury or other physical and intellectual challenges. In addition, they also provide assistive devices to patients, which can improve the person’s function if they are suffering from serious injury or disability.
Getting in-home therapy for seniors will let them continue doing the activities that they love. They can help older adults adapt to new circumstances while helping them do the things that they love in life. Also, in-home therapy can help seniors live safely, as it can help seniors gain confidence as they learn to safely do daily activities.
In-Home Social Services
There are caseworkers that offer in-home services to suit the needs of the patient. Whether an older adult needs counseling or help to receive specific benefits and resources, a social service manager can help.
Who Qualifies for In-Home Social Services?
In-home social service is perfect for older adults seeking aid for their welfare or well-being. It is especially beneficial for seniors who need extensive care and coordination of many different specialists for their medical conditions.
Benefits of In-Home Social Services
In-home social services are beneficial for older adults as these professionals can help them get in touch or coordinate with various specialists that they need for their health. This means that they no longer have to go out and visit offices. All they have to do is to contact social services that can visit them at home and help them arrange all of their needs.
In-Home Companionship Services
There are times when older adults do not need specialized medical care but are seeking in-home services. These services give comfort and supervision to seniors who may be lonely or who are staying at home by themselves for long periods. In addition to accompanying them, these services may also cook them basic meals and do some light housekeeping duties.
Who Qualifies for In-Home Companionship Services?
An in-home companionship service is actually great for all older adults who feel the need to have someone that can help them with various things. It is perfect for seniors who need someone to run errands for them, such as grocery shopping or picking up medications. It is also great for those who need help in preparing their meals and keeping the house in order.
In addition to those, in-home companionship services can be availed by seniors who are looking for someone to accompany them when going to appointments and social gatherings. Some may also avail of this service simply to have someone to talk to.
Benefits of In-Home Companionship Services
As the effects of aging take over, it can be challenging for an older adult to be alone at home. They will need someone to look after them when their families are at work. This way, you can ensure that they are safe and will have someone to help them with moving around the house and doing tasks. With this, we can say that hiring in-home companions can provide them with a sense of security that is quite difficult to find elsewhere. These services can also help them with accomplishing daily tasks safely. Most importantly, it is beneficial for seniors who are looking for someone to talk to from time to time, as they can give the conversation and interaction that your loved one needs and longs for.
At-Home Dietary Support
As people age, there are certain dietary restrictions that need to be observed. This way, you can ensure that they still receive proper nutrition and thrive. Today, dieticians are also offering in-home dietary support for seniors. This way, they can visit them at home to review their diet and provide guidance.
You may also read our article about Elderly Nutrition Problems and Solutions to learn more about the best diets for seniors.
Who Qualifies for At-Home Dietary Support?
If you feel that your loved one needs support when it comes to the meals that he or she eats to stay healthy, then at-home dietary support might be a good service to avail. This way, you can ensure that your older adult is meeting his or her nutritional needs and is eating foods that are healthy and rich in vitamins. Eating healthy is very important for seniors as it helps them prevent heart disease and other illnesses.
Benefits of At-Home Dietary Support
At-home dietary support is very beneficial for seniors as this will help them get the vitamins and minerals that their body needs through the food that they eat. In addition to that, dieticians will be able to assess their health and recommend the right types of meals, all in the comfort of their own homes. At-home dietary support can also help the family of the older adult to learn about the right food or meals that they can serve in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
At-Home Transportation Services
One of the main issues that most older adults experience is the inability to transport themselves to and from various appointments, particularly visits to the doctor. This can be due to poor health that hinders them from driving, or they are no longer comfortable driving. If this is the case, there are at-home transportation services that can be availed by seniors. These services will pick them up from home, drive them safely wherever they need to go and bring them back home.
Who Qualifies for At-Home Transportation Services?
At-home transportation services are perfect for older adults who can no longer drive by themselves. It can also be a great service for seniors who live far from essential places like hospitals and markets and those who can no longer commute via public transport.
Benefits of At-Home Transportation Services
One of the benefits that older adults can get from availing of at-home transportation services is safety. If they are unable to drive due to their health, such as vision and hearing loss, it is safer that they get a transportation service. This can ensure quality and professional driving services, and they also provide special traveling accommodations like wheelchairs and handicapped transportation if needed.
Aside from that, having the ability to leave the house freely and engage with the world can help seniors regain the freedom and independence that they had earlier in life. With these transportation services, they will be able to attend events and join activities that can help improve their overall life quality.
Home Health Aides
Home health aides or home health care pertains to the hiring of individuals that can help older adults to perform daily tasks, such as getting out of bed, bathing, eating, and walking. However, note that home health aides are not certified to perform any kind of medical care for seniors. That is why their services are usually monitored carefully by a registered nurse.
Who Qualifies for Home Health Aides?
Hiring home health aides can be great for older adults who have lived through a significant medical event but still require distinct care to be able to get back to their normal levels of self-sufficiency. It can also be great for seniors who need help in coordinating care from various medical professionals.
Benefits of Home Health Aides
Having a home health aide can ensure safety in the house. They can support the hygiene of older adults, as they are trained to go the extra mile and make sure that brushing, bathing, and all other concerns are taken care of. They can also help regulate and enforce a healthy and medically-required diet and exercise plan for older adults.
In addition, home health aides can also provide companionship to older adults who live alone. They are not only there to put away the dishes and help the patient reach out to doctors. They can also be there as someone to talk to and share some time with.
Conclusion
These are the different types of in-home services for seniors. Older adults who value their independence can benefit well from home care. There are services that can assist them with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and laundry. There are also in-home nurses that can help seniors in managing their health issues. Lastly, there are in-home services that can aid seniors in recovering from serious illnesses or hospital stays. Whatever their needs may be, there’s likely a solution in the growing industry of home care for seniors. We hope this post helped you learn more about the different types of in-home services for seniors.