Senior Living: In-Home Care Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
In-Home Care for Couples or Singles
Most seniors would like to live independently in their homes and avoid moving into a senior care community. There are many ways one can live independently at home and avoid or delay the need to move into a senior care community. At A Home to Fit You, we use our knowledge and expertise to help seniors and their families stay at home as long as possible by connecting them with the appropriate support services.
Seniors living independently at home with their spouse can experience much happiness and joy, but one must be realistic about the growing demands of the aging process. When a couple lives at home, although there is another set of eyes around, it may be that one person becomes the main caregiver for the other. One of the greatest concerns is that the spouse who is the caregiver, who may also be frail or in declining health, can exhaust him or herself by taking on responsibilities that are beyond their physical and/or emotional capability.
I found Ronit to be professional and respectful of my family's needs. She has a great way of communicating with humor and kindness. You could witness her knowledge of how difficult it is for an elder to change their lifestyle with the way she interviewed my Mom. I highly recommend this service.
Janet Harris
In-Home Care: In-Home Support
When living independently at home, as a single or a couple, there are many things to be taken into consideration, which we address in our comprehensive assessment:
Home Modifications
Determine accessibility needs for a walker or a wheelchair, clean clutter area, install ramp over entrance stairs, install a lift on the staircase to the second floor, install grab bars in the bathroom, raised toilet seat, and a shower chair, remove throw rugs, install additional light fixtures, and rearrange the kitchen. These are just a few things that can be done to make the home safe for the senior to continue to live independently.
In-Home Caregiver
A hired caregiver can provide scheduled help with showers, dressing, cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, shopping, companionship, etc.
Family Members
Family can provide help such as transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, household chores, and socialization.
Home Health Care Services
There are many Home Health services that are covered by medical health insurance. They would provide, for a short time and per the care needs, monitoring of medical care needs by a nurse and therapy for strengthening, mobility, activities of Daily Living (ADL), speech and cognition needs by a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Speech Therapist, as well as additional services, when appropriate by a dietitian and medical social worker.
Medical Alert Device
The greatest concern for a senior who lives at home independently is falling. If there is no one around to call for help, critical hours can pass before help is provided. A medical alert device (a call button that activates a call for help) is one of the best solutions for this problem. There are many different companies that provide this service.
Staying Connected Through Community Activity
Social isolation is another major concern when seniors live by themselves. It is important to identify social interactions and activities that would allow the seniors to stay connected and involved socially with their social network or with social activities in the community. You can find a wide range of activities in the community centers (through Parks and Recs).
In-Home Care: Living With Family
In the old days, extended families lived together; grandparents, adult children, and grandchildren shared the same house and helped one another. It is less common today to see three generations in one household, but not unheard of. When one parent dies, leaving the other parent home alone, they may move into their adult son’s or daughter’s home. If the senior is in good health and is able to help around the home by folding laundry, watching grandkids, or cooking a meal, living with the family can be a good option to help seniors maintain some of their independence.
In-Home Care: When Living At Home Is No Longer Possible
It is important to keep in mind that caring for a parent can create a lot of stress and tension. As the senior’s healthcare needs place more demands on their relationships, staying at home with family may no longer be a reasonable option. Take the time to assess the home care needs of the parent honestly and whether the family has the ability and availability to provide the necessary support. Senior care needs requiring 24-hour care, memory loss that requires supervision at all times, or the need for heavy lifting, are just a few of the reasons why living with the family may not be a good solution.
If it is time to explore other senior living options, our advisors can help you and your loved one find the right senior care community.
