Tips on Planning for Long-Term Senior Home Care

Because seniors today are living longer than ever, it’s important to think about the help they might need in the future and make the appropriate long-term plans. If your senior loved one needs help handling an illness or assistance with tasks around the house, here are some of the most important steps your family will need to take to meet his or her long-term home care needs.

Make the Necessary Living Arrangements 

Figuring out where your loved one will live as he or she ages is an important factor in planning for long-term care. Decide if your parent will age in place, stay at your home, or move in with another relative. It’s a good idea to discuss these plans with your loved one as well as other members of your household because everyone deserves to be comfortable with the living arrangements.  Your loved one may want to continue living at home instead of moving. If the doctor approves, you should consider this option. Aging in place can help your loved one remain independent and lower the risk of anxiety and depression, which can also prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other serious conditions often caused by stress. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.

Modify the Home 

Whether your loved one moves in with you and requires help from a caregiver or decides to remain at home and only needs part-time assistance, the home of choice must be equipped to handle your parent’s care needs, especially if your loved one has a chronic or age-related disease such as dementia or osteoporosis.  You may need to rearrange the furniture to allow your loved one to move throughout the home with ease, and you may also need to remove throw rugs to reduce the risk of falling. Bones become more fragile with age, and a broken bone could lead to a more serious health concern. Other changes you may need to make for safety reasons include: 

• Installing grab bars in the bathroom and shower
• Lowering toilet seats
• Building wheelchair-accessible ramps
• Installing a shower seat
• Keeping sharp objects out of reach
• Adding adequate lighting, including nightlights and high-wattage bulbs

Develop a Care Schedule 

Taking on the responsibility of being a family caregiver is a huge commitment, and you may need to share this duty with other family members and close friends. To prevent exhaustion, develop a schedule you and other family members can agree on, which may include deciding who takes your loved one to medical appointments, who will help with daily necessities like bathing and housework, and who will stay in the home with your parent at night. You also need to decide who is in charge of making medical and financial decisions for your loved one in case he or she is unable to make them. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Winnipeg, MB, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.

Hire an In-Home Caregiver 

Even with the help of family and friends, you may still need outside assistance to ensure your loved one has the care he or she needs. Consider hiring an in-home caregiver to help with cooking, cleaning, bathing, medication reminders, and much more. Professional caregivers also have expertise in helping seniors with health conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s.  One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide homecare services. Winnipeg families can turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties. To learn about our revolutionary in-home care plans, call us at (204) 489-6000 today.