If your aging loved one is enjoying life in their home but could use a helping hand from time to time, at-home care may be the perfect solution. At-home care provides flexible options to meet a variety of needs, making it a valuable service to consider.
Whether your loved one is open to new possibilities or feels skeptical or resistant to change, you can work with them to evaluate their options and ensure they receive the best care possible for their needs.
What Is At-Home Care?
At-home care refers to a wide variety of services that share one important feature: They are delivered in your loved one’s home. Many older adults are committed to remaining in their homes long-term, but certain tasks may become difficult to manage on their own. There’s no need to struggle alone or depend solely on family and friends to help when friendly, professional at-home services team members are ready to fill the gaps.
At-home care is generally classified into two categories:
General (Non-Medical) Support
Getting dressed, fixing a meal, watering the flowers, changing the sheets, taking the dog for a walk — any of these tasks can be difficult for a person with physical limitations to handle alone. At-home care team members can help with all these tasks (and more) so your loved one can enjoy living in their home without pushing themselves too far or risking their health and safety just to stay on top of a to-do list.
Medical Care
Your loved one can also receive help with routine medical needs in their home. This type of care is generally prescribed by your loved one’s physician and tailored to their medical needs. In-home medical care can be ongoing or a temporary solution following a procedure or illness. For example, a home health nurse may visit regularly in the weeks following surgery to assess the patient’s progress and assist with wound care.
In the case of a chronic condition, clients also can benefit from palliative care in their homes. Clients experiencing a life-limiting condition may choose to receive hospice care in their homes, freeing up loved ones to focus on time together while experienced nurses, counselors, and volunteers assist with care.
Understanding the Need for At-Home Care
How do you know when it’s time to consider at-home care? Here are a few signs that now may be the perfect time to sign up for at-home services:
- Visits with your loved one are focused on helping them with tasks that need to be accomplished rather than simply enjoying time together.
- Your loved one is risking their safety or pushing their physical limits to accomplish tasks on their own.
- Your loved one feels stressed because they can’t maintain their home or stay on top of tasks in the same way they used to.
- Your loved one needs to make routine trips to a medical practice for needs that could be fulfilled at home.
- You worry about your loved one being alone without someone to check in routinely.
Even if at-home care isn’t a necessity for your loved one, a little assistance can go a long way toward making their life more comfortable and enhancing their well-being.
Navigating Care Decisions with Your Loved One
If you enjoy a close relationship with your loved one and are in a position to contribute to their care decisions, you can come alongside them and explore their options together — including at-home care.
Start by hearing their perspective.
Gauging your loved one’s thoughts on the topic is a great place to start. Ask how they feel about at-home assistance. Maybe they’re already interested, maybe they feel some strong reservations, or maybe they simply haven’t considered it. If they are experiencing some misgivings, ask them to share. Take time to validate their feelings and work with them to address their concerns.
Address concerns and explore solutions together.
Misconceptions are common with many senior living services, so lovingly correct these if they come up. For example, a friend’s negative experience with a specific senior living organization a decade ago may not reflect the options and quality of care your loved one can expect from WesleyLife today. They may be pleasantly surprised by the reality of at-home services.
Discuss your loved one’s current situation and how different at-home care options could alter their routines and quality of life for the better. As you discuss options, your loved one may also want to seek professional guidance from their medical team, counselor, or other trusted people in their life. Ultimately, it’s up to your loved one who they want to invite into their home and what type of help they’re open to receiving.
Quick Tips for a Positive Conversation with Your Loved One
A conversation with your loved one about at-home care can be daunting if you’re afraid of overstepping or failing to change their perspective. By using the ideal approach, though, these conversations can be positive, collaborative, and productive. Consider these tips:
1. Choose the ideal time and setting.
Pick a quiet and comfortable environment for the conversation where you and your loved one can feel relaxed and focused. A moment of frustration or struggle may seem like a good opportunity to point out the need for help, but this approach can ultimately do more harm than good. You want to choose the ideal occasion to frame the conversation positively (more on this below).
2. Focus on the positive.
Emphasize how at-home care can enhance your loved one’s life rather than present at-home care as a solution to problems. Highlight the freedom your loved one could regain, the convenience of routine assistance, and the potential for meaningful relationships with friendly at-home caregivers.
3. Research together.
You can do a lot of homework on your own and relay information to your loved one in a way that’s tailored to them and addresses their concerns. However, you may also want to do some research together to ensure your loved one is involved in the process and feels empowered with information.
4. Address financial and practical considerations.
Cost is often a concern that keeps people from exploring at-home services further. Include the cost of at-home care in your research, and discuss available financial resources with your loved one. You should also discuss the logistics of receiving at-home care, such as scheduling and care routines.
5. Provide reassurance and support.
One of the best things you can do for your loved one is offer continuous support throughout their decision-making process and beyond. They’re navigating the journey of aging for the first time, and life transitions can come with an onslaught of emotions. Let them know that you will be there to help throughout the process.
6. Follow up after the initial conversation.
If your loved one is comfortable beginning the conversation but isn’t receptive at the time you initiate the conversation, ask if they’re open to learning more or if they want to table the conversation for now and revisit it after they’ve thought it over. Keep communication open for ongoing discussions, and if your loved one does choose to sign up for at-home care, check in with them to see how it’s going and whether they should consider adjusting their care plan.
Learn More About At-Home Services
At-home care can significantly enhance your loved one's quality of life, providing them with the support they need in the comfort of their own home. By engaging in open, supportive conversations and addressing their concerns with empathy and accurate information, you can help them make an informed decision. You can learn all about at-home care in our e-book, The Complete Guide to At-Home Services. Download your copy today, and consider reading it with your loved one as you explore what at-home care could mean for them.
