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Researching Options in
In Home Care

Aging in place is a goal for many of our seniors.  The desire to stay in their own home and remain independent is often their goal, not realizing they might enjoy living in an active senior community where help is just a few minutes away.

Some may be very successful at managing their home and others might struggle with basic things like mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, buying groceries, or cooking for one person.  All of these items are fairly easy for families to assist with or for outside help to be hired.

But when they start having health issues, falling, or having problems with activities of daily living it may be time to explore In-Home Care Options.

In-Home Care

Let's explore a range of support services that families may seek to hire to help their seniors to live safely in their own home.

Household Maintenance.

Living in a rental property with a landlord who takes care of maintenance and a yard, can make household maintenance for your senior a little bit easier.  But those who live in their own home have more things to worry about.  But outside help can be hired fairly inexpensively:  laundry service, grocery delivery, lawn care, cleaning, and handyman services are all available.d healthcare management may also be helpful.

Transportation.

Getting around town might be more difficult as seniors start to have issues with driving.  Family and friends can help to a point, and possibly your senior has mastered the art of uber.  There are also community services that will pick seniors up and take them to the doctors and groceries. There are volunteers in the community like Catch-A-Ride in Johnson County as well as services like Oats Transit that help our seniors get where they need to go.

Home modifications.

If your mobility is becoming limited, home modifications can go a long way toward keeping your existing residence comfortable and accessible. Modifications can include things such as grab bars in the shower, ramps to avoid or minimize the use of stairs, or even installing a new bathroom on the ground floor. A word of caution however before spending 1000's of dollars in home modifications is to consider how long these modifications will serve the senior or will they need to move out of the home within months of the major modifications being completed.

Personal care.

Help with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, or meal preparation, is called personal or custodial care. Home health aides can provide personal care services that range from a few hours a day to around-the-clock live-in care. They may also provide limited assistance with things such as taking blood pressure or offering medication reminders.

Health care.

Some healthcare services can be provided at home by trained professionals, such as occupational therapists, social workers, or home health nurses. Check with your insurance or health service to see what kind of coverage is available, although you may have to cover some costs out of pocket.

Hospice care can also be provided at home.

Day programs.

Day programs or adult day care can help you keep busy with activities and socialization during the day while providing a break for your caregivers. Some daycare programs are primarily social, while others provide limited health services or specialize in disorders such as early-stage Alzheimer’s.

Home Health Care

When the care giver provides skilled medical services, often for a short period of time as they recover from an injury or an illness, it is called Home Health Care.  This often involved health care professionals such as nurses, therapists or home health aids that visit for short periods of time to help with:

  • First Aid and Wound Care
  • Review and Administration of Medication
  • Post Surgery Recovery Care
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Respiratory Therapy
  • Monitoring Chronic Conditions
  • Assisting with Medical Devices
  • Drawing Blood

Finding In Home Care

There are quite a few readily available resources for finding in-home care with some simple searches online.  Your doctors might also schedule home health care visits.  If you need a referral to care, please reach out through our contact form and we will give you a few names of local resources.

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