6 Reasons Why Home Care Is Important for the Elderly

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If you are like most people, home care holds a certain negative stigma. But nothing could be further from the truth. Home care is vitally important to the elderly and their health because it allows patients to maintain an active lifestyle while receiving necessary daily assistance.

Home care is the practice of providing medical care to people who cannot go about their daily lives or perform necessary tasks for themselves. Although most patients receiving home care are elderly, anyone who needs assistance with personal tasks can benefit from it. However, many individuals do not need full nursing service; there are many opportunities for people to receive home care and aid in their daily lives.

Experts recommend the following 6 reasons why home care is important for the elderly.

1. Personalized Care

Home care provides patients with individualized, tailored care which can be adjusted to fit their specific needs. This is especially important for the elderly, who require a greater level of attention and may receive different types of treatment depending on their current state of health.

For example, a patient who needs physical therapy after shoulder surgery will have a very different treatment regimen than a person who just had surgery on their hip. A home care nurse can take all of this into account and create the necessary care plan for each patient.

Personalized care will elevate the quality of life for elderly patients, ensuring that they receive the best possible level of treatment. It will also make them feel much more cared for and like they are finally receiving the attention that they need.

2. Reduced Risk of Disease or Injury

Older adults are more prone to developing diseases and injuries than younger ones. Their immune system is weaker than it has ever been because the human body’s defense mechanisms wear down over time. Many older people are not able to handle certain infections or diseases, so contracting something like pneumonia can become serious very quickly.

Home care offers patients proactive measures of disease prevention. Being healthy is the best way to prevent the onset of any disease. Home care nurses monitor the patient’s daily routine and take preventative measures when necessary to keep them safe and healthy.

This also means that home care for dementia patients is an effective form of treatment to help protect against this nervous system disease development. Dementia puts these individuals at a higher risk of injury during their daily routine because they may not be aware of their surroundings or the dangers that come along with them. Home care nurses can provide the necessary supervision and assist dementia patients in completing daily tasks to keep them safe and healthy.

3. Helps Maintain Independence

An AARP survey reports that 3 of 4 Americans aged 50 and up want to remain in their homes and communities as they become elderly, but many do not think they will be able to. The answer to this is non-skilled home care that assists with daily tasks and prevents the loss of independence.

As more people continue to live into their old age, there is a greater need for individualized medical treatment services. The elderly want to maintain a certain level of independence but often cannot due to limitations caused by aging or disease.

Home care allows patients to maintain their independence and engage in daily life on their own, with as much or as little assistance as necessary. This can be vitally important for older adults because they may live alone and not have anyone else to rely on if they don’t receive home care services.

For many patients, a home care service can allow them to stay with the community and friends they have lived with for decades, rather than a nursing home of strangers and limited visitation.

4. Extra Assistance With Everyday Tasks

Many patients with limited mobility or severe medical conditions are unable to complete the necessary tasks for their day-to-day life. Conditions like arthritis and heart disease prevent older people from performing tasks like cooking, cleaning, gardening, or rising from a chair. This can be dangerous when these activities are not completed correctly or when an individual does them with an already limited range of motion.

This is where home care comes in. Home care services can provide assistance with these activities in order to make the patient’s life easier and reduce stress.

Take the patient undergoing physical therapy after shoulder surgery, for example. This patent will be unable to complete daily tasks on their own until they recover. A home care nurse can assist the patient with things like bathing, dressing, cooking, or completing necessary medical treatments that would otherwise be completed alone.

5. Companionship

Spending time with loved ones can prevent physical and mental decline, reduce stress and anxiety, and provide constant care. However, family members who live far away may not always be able to visit their elderly relatives. Living alone without visits from friends or family can lead to depression or social isolation which will further worsen the patient’s health.

Sometimes, it can be hard to get out of the house and visit with friends and family. Everyone is busy with their own lives and it can be hard to find time to get together. Sometimes, family and friends have passed away and there is no one left to visit.

Companionship, in the form of non-skilled home care or a family member, can make a huge difference to these elderly patients who live alone and cannot meet with loved ones very often. These nurses will keep the patient company, speak with them and listen to their concerns, play cards or watch television. These activities all help to maintain the patient’s mental health and will improve their quality of life.

6. Improved Diet and Eating Habits

Elderly individuals sometimes struggle with keeping a good diet due to decreased appetite. At other times, the elderly may lose their appetite entirely or be unable to prepare their own meals due to limited mobility. This can lead to malnutrition and poor health because they are not eating enough of the necessary vitamins and nutrients required for good health.

Home care nurses will work with the patient to create a menu plan that meets all dietary requirements, assess their eating habits, and provide support. Nurses will also help with grocery shopping and preparing meals if needed.

Additionally, these nurses can include your loved one in making a diet plan, cooking, and shopping in a safe way. This will help them feel more independent and in control of their day-to-day food choices and life

Based on this guide, it is clear that home care is an important service for elderly patients to maintain their independence and stay healthy. As we get older, it becomes more challenging to complete daily tasks independently or find the assistance we need when living alone. From 24-7 home health care to companionship for lonely patients, home care can provide much-needed help with essential tasks in order to keep elderly patients healthy.

Don’t let the stigma drive you away from home-care! As you can see, there are so many benefits for you and your loved one. Next time you go to the doctor, make sure to see if home care is the best solution for you or your elderly loved one.

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