When Should Families Consider In-Home Care?

As our loved one’s age or face health challenges, families are often faced with difficult decisions regarding their care. Balancing young children, elderly parents, schedules, career, and life is a common juggling act for thousands of Charlotte, NC area families.

One option that continues to gain in popularity is in-home care. This provides a compassionate and personalized approach allowing individuals to receive the support and care they need while remaining in the comfort of their own home.

When is the right time to consider in-home care?

What should you look for in terms of signals that may indicate a need for in-home care?

What can help families make informed decisions that prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of their loved ones?

1. Difficulty Managing Daily Activities

One of the earliest signs that in-home care might be needed is when a loved one begins to struggle with activities of daily living (ADLs). These include basic tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and eating. While many people take completing these activities for granted, the risks associated with completing these tasks for seniors become more significant as they get older. Challenges or concerns with balance, coordination, vision, and hearing can all contribute toward making completing these tasks a challenge.

In addition, if your loved one is having trouble maintaining personal hygiene, preparing meals, or keeping their living space clutter free, it may be time to explore in-home care.

2. Chronic Health Conditions or Recent Medical Events

Has your loved one recently experienced a hospitalization, surgery, or medical event like a stroke, heart attack or COPD exacerbation? They may benefit from specialized professional in-home care during their recovery period. Also, seniors and their families navigating chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis often benefit from consistent care focused on their specific needs. One size does not fit all.

In-home caregivers are trained to assist with medication management, post-surgery care, discharge plans, mobility support and exercise. Caregivers can also help introduce and embed new lifestyle changes and other health-related needs (exercise, nutrition), reducing the risk of future complications and unnecessary hospital re-admissions.

3. Increased Falls or Safety Concerns

Our fall risk increases exponentially as we age, and the data is frightening regarding the impact of falls. Falls are a leading cause of hospitalizations among older adults aged 65+, and even minor falls can lead to serious complications.

Professional caregivers can assist with transfers, mobility, and assistance with activities where the fall risk is higher (bathing, toileting, transfers).

If your loved one has experienced recent falls or shows signs of instability, in-home care can be a crucial step in helping to prevent (further) avoidable injuries.

Reputable In-home care companies will help identify elevated risk areas within the home environment, and reduce or eliminate hazards (clutter, rugs, proximity of commonly used items) and provide support to minimize safety concerns. This diligence and personalized care not only protects the physical health of the individual, it also provides family members with peace of mind.

4. Memory Loss or Cognitive Decline - Know the signs

The prevalence of Dementia and Alzheimer's disease is increasing, and can bring a variety of unique challenges that can make independent living unsafe. Forgetfulness, confusion, and difficulty managing daily routines can place individuals at risk for accidents, neglecting to take their medications or turning off appliances. Asking your loved one’s questions to gather more information (What is this red pill for, Mom”? “What did Dr. Jones talk about the last time you saw him?”) can provide valuable insight.

Avoid bombarding your loved ones with yes / no questions.

In-home caregivers trained in memory care can provide structure, companionship, and will incorporate specialized and research driven techniques to support cognitive health while maintaining a familiar, comforting & safe environment for your loved one.

5. Caregiver Burnout - Please speak up.

Family members often step in to provide care for aging or ill loved ones, but this can quickly become overwhelming. AARP data states that there are 38 million people in the US providing unpaid care to a family member each year, totaling approx. 38 billion hours of unpaid care each year. Women perform approximately 65% of this unpaid care, providing 296 (average) hours of care each year.

The emotional, physical, and mental costs involved are profound. Many employers are now implementing caregiving benefits for employees due to the enormity of this issue. The trends show no sign of slowing down and this issue will continue to be a challenge as our population ages.

Balancing caregiving responsibilities with work, personal life, and other obligations can lead to physical and emotional burnout. When caregiving starts to negatively affect your own health, relationships, or overall well-being, it is a sign that professional help may be beneficial. In home-care services can help alleviate this burden, allowing family members to focus on quality time with their loved ones instead of being / feeling solely responsible for their care.

You are not alone.

6. Desire for Independence with Support

Many seniors value their independence and prefer to stay in their own homes as long as possible. In-home care allows seniors to maintain their autonomy while receiving the support they need. Yes, it can be a challenge accepting care after a lifetime of independence. However, a small amount of care and support each week can often be sufficient to allow Mum to stay at home while also helping to keep Mum safe, independent, and engaged. Whether it is some assistance with activities of daily living, household chores, companionship, or transportation to appointments, in-home care is specifically tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual, promoting both independence and safety.

One size does not fit all.

Conclusion

Deciding when to seek in-home care is a personal choice influenced by the unique needs and circumstances of your loved one. Being aware and vigilant to the early indicators and methodically exploring care options can help prevent crises, improve quality of life, and offer families peace of mind.

At HomeWatch CareGivers, our team are committed to providing compassionate, personalized care that supports both our clients and their families through every stage of the journey. Please reach out at 704-503-4660 and any member of our team would be happy to listen to, advise and support you as you navigate this chapter of life.