In Home Care for Seniors Increasing Assistive Needs

Are you a senior with chronic medical conditions? Do you worry about the possibility of having to move into an assisted home? According to Age Wave, most people vastly underestimate the likelihood they will need long term care. While 37% of people age 50 plus believe they may need long term care in the future, the reality is that twice as many eventually will (70%). Requiring assistive care to remain independent in your own home can be very frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways that you can receive the additional assistance you need, while also remaining in your own home.

Get a roommate
One of the biggest factors when it comes to seniors living alone is safety. If you live alone and are to fall, there is no one there to help. If you require any type of emergency medical help, there is no one around to call for it. Getting a roommate can help to increase your safety. It increases the amount of time that someone else is around. The added communication and social opportunities are also beneficial for seniors who often feel isolated.

Move closer to family
Sometimes, it can be difficult for family members to constantly check on you. This is especially true if they have their own families, full time jobs, and a list of other responsibilities. By moving closer to them, however, you can make this more convenient. Moving as close as possible ensures that you will always have family around for assistance. It also allows you to be closer to any grandchildren or extended family members.

In home care
In home caregivers for the elderly provide many of the same assistive services that you can get in a nursing home setting. The home care givers are qualified, experienced, and dependable. By hiring in home caregivers for the elderly, you don?t have to worry about being a burden to your family. In a study by Genworth Financial, more than half of all respondents (55%) reported that their greatest fear regarding a long term care illness or event was being a burden on their family.

You can remain in your own home and receive assistance with the things you need when the in home caregivers for the elderly come. The good thing about these in home caregivers is that they are based on custom care solutions. You can receive as little or as much assistance as you need. If your assistive needs change, you can simply change your caregiving plan.

Physical therapy
Many assistive needs come after a major surgery or illness. In home caregivers for the elderly can be helpful for even these situations. However, physical therapy can also be helpful because it promotes rehabilitation faster. The faster that you are able to get back on your feet, the less in home care that you will require. Physical therapy can help a variety of medical conditions.

According to Home Instead Senior Care?s survey of home care professionals, their clients fell into the following categories, 61% had mobility issues, 48% were frail (muscle weakness, slow walking, exhaustion), 43% had some type of dementia, 20% has Alzheimer?s disease, and 22% were dealing with the after effect of stroke. Physical therapy and in home care services are great in helping seniors remain independent.

An increasing number of seniors are requiring assistance outside of the home. In fact, by 2050, the number of individuals using paid long term care services in any setting, will likely double from the 13 million using services in 2000, to 27 million people. This estimate is influenced by growth in the population of older people in need of care. The best way to deal with increasing care needs is to get a roommate, move closer to family, consider care for patients at their home, and physical therapy.