Study after study reveals that elderly Americans would much prefer to age in place than to move somewhere else in their golden years. However, even with the best of intentions, many elderly adults are no longer capable of living at home independently. It’s not very easy to take care of oneself when physical limitations threaten essential daily tasks. However, if it’s important to the aging adult, then family caregivers should look at all the options to see if it is possible.
Why Can’t All Seniors Live Alone?
There are numerous conditions that prevent seniors from living independently. Sometimes they just affect a few tasks during the day, while other physical ailments require the aging adult to have round-the-clock help. Some common ailments that significantly limit whether an aging adult can do things for themselves include arthritis, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, the after-effects of a stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bad vision, poor balance, or dementia.
When a health issue prevents a senior from being able to do basic things for themselves, like cook a nutritious dinner or get dressed in the morning, then they need someone to come in and help. Family caregivers often try to shoulder this responsibility themselves, but all too often they find that they cannot keep up in their own lives and care for their elderly loved one full time. Their jobs suffer, and they usually neglect good health habits in order to care for their aging loved one.
One thing that many family caregivers seriously consider is hiring home care providers. These professionals can assist with almost everything, from companionship and housework to meal preparation and more. There are even some home care providers that will provide transportation for seniors to get to doctor’s appointments or community senior events, for example. Some home care providers even do night shifts, so family caregivers can get some sleep. With a home care provider, aging adults don’t have to face the challenges that come from aging in place alone.
The idea of not living in their own home can really frighten some aging adults. They fear the unknown and of where they might end up. Its already hard to lose their independence and to shoulder all the stress that they feel as they think about their health, reflect on the passage of time, and dwell on their health or lack of it. Studies show that most seniors actually do better at home when It comes to recovery from illness and injury, and emotionally, seniors are less likely to be lonely or isolated when they are in their own home.
If it’s possible to do so, family caregivers should look into in-home care from a home care provider to look after their aging parent. It’s worth it to relieve plenty of mental stress to know that they can count on a reliable, professional person to look after their elderly loved one.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring caregiver services in Elizabeth, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299. Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside and the surrounding areas.
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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