A lot of people associate elder care as being something older adults need when they’re very ill or disabled. There’s more to elder care than that. While home care does help those who are ill or disabled, it also helps those who are healthy and active. The ultimate goal of elder care services is to help an older adult live at home safely but independently.
Services That Caregivers Provide
When you arrange elder care services for an older adult, there is a wide range of services available. You can have caregivers assist with menu planning, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. You could have a caregiver there to help your parent get in and out of the shower without slipping.
Caregivers can help with housework and laundry, transportation and appointment scheduling, and medication reminders. If your parents are still independent in many ways, caregivers can stop by to make sure all is okay during a winter storm or spend some time providing friendship.
You may decide to offer the care your parents need. You’ll need respite care from time to time. That’s another aspect elder care offers that can be very useful to families. The caregiver can take over while you run errands, go on a vacation, or take a break for a few hours.
You Can Change Elder Care
If your parents’ needs change, you can alter their caregiving plan. If your mom only needed companionship but falls and breaks her ankle, you could add help with personal care and transportation. If your dad is diagnosed with high blood pressure, medication reminders could be added.
The same is true if your parents need to reduce the services they get. After your mom’s ankle heals, she could return to companionship services and drop the others. If your dad gets his blood pressure under control after losing weight and exercising, he may not need the medications anymore.
How Do You Arrange Elder Care Services?
To arrange home care, you start by talking to your parents about what they need help completing. Ask them what they feel they’re missing most by living alone. Talk to other family members to make sure you’re not overlooking anything.
Once you have an idea of the services that would help them, call an agency to make arrangements and discuss prices for home care. At that time, you can ask questions you and your parents have and learn more about services you may have overlooked.
If you, or an aging loved-one, are considering hiring Elderly care in Oceanside, CA, or the Surrounding San Diego Area, please contact the caring staff at GoldenCare today. Call us at (760) 828-5201 today.
