balancing your life while providing senior care

Hiring An Elderly Care Professional Is Often Easier Than Family Care

When a loved one ages and is no longer able to take care of themselves, families sometimes decide to keep their loved one home. Families often decide that they will come together and take care of their loved ones. In some scenarios, families underestimate just how much time and effort goes into the process and ends up feeling overwhelmed. Often, a better option is to bring in an elderly caregiver for assistance.

Assessing Needs Correctly 

Families sometimes underestimate just how much care their loved ones will need. For example, it may not be enough to simply give your loved one their medications. They could have a digestive or swallowing issue, such as dysphagia, that may require you to crumble their medications. Elderly care professionals are able to assess your loved one's needs to ensure they have everything they need.

More Than Just a Quick Visit

It is also easy to assume that taking care of your loved one just involves a quick visit to their home once or twice a day. However, many aging people need help with everything from keeping up with their hygiene to light housekeeping to dinner preparation. Assisting with all these tasks can be very time-consuming, which may exceed the amount of time you have on hand. 

The Unexpected Can Occur

Another demand to think about is the fact that sometimes the unexpected can occur. For example, your loved one may need to schedule a last-minute, urgent doctor's appointment or they could fall around the home and need immediate assistance. If all the family is across town, it may take some time to get to their home. However, with an elder care professional in the home, someone is right there to take care of their needs right away. 

Financial Pressures Can Increase

There is also a financial commitment that might come along with caring for an aging loved one on your own. For example, if you have to take off from work frequently, this missed time will equate to less income. Over time, this could cause financial stress. The cost of elderly care can often be split with insurance companies. So, not only do you have help covering this expense, but you also do not have the need to take off from work, unplanned.

If you want to keep your loved one home, but you are unsure if your family can meet the needs of your loved one, contact an elderly care professional to ensure their needs are met.  

To find out more, contact a company like Polish Helping Hands.


Share