In-home care is a great way to make sure your loved one gets the care and support they need when they can no longer safely live at home alone, but aren’t quite ready for an assisted living home.

In-home care services are highly customizable and versatile, offering the level of support you need when and where you need it most. Whether your loved one needs occasional care and companionship or you need respite care as a family caregiver, an in-home care agency is a valuable resource.

Here’s a look at the main benefits of home health services for elderly loved ones.

What Are In-Home Care Services?

In-home care services are services provided to an elderly loved one in the comfort of their own home. An in-home caregiver can offer a wide range of services, including:

Assistance with the tasks of daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, personal hygiene, and eating
Assistance getting in and out of bed and to and from the bathroom
Mobility assistance
Meal preparation
Light housekeeping
Grocery shopping
Transportation to medical appointments or social events
Socialization and companionship
Memory care
Alzheimer’s care
Medication management
Safety monitoring

You can choose how much care your loved one needs and how often a caregiver comes to your home. You can choose to hire an agency for occasional temporary or respite caregiving, 24/7 around-the-clock care, or daily or weekly services.

If your loved one’s health needs change, you can scale up their level of care by hiring a specialist in skilled nursing care or in-home hospice care.

In-Home Care vs. Family Caregiving

A family caregiver is a family member who provides free caregiving services, either in their own home or the loved one’s home. This is often much less expensive than transitioning your loved one into an assisted living facility, and it also allows your loved one to age in place in the comfort of their own home.

If you decide to act as a family caregiver, it’s important that you share the tasks with someone else in your family, or hire an in-home caregiver for respite care.

Otherwise, you are in danger of suffering from caregiver burnout, which can occur when you neglect your own physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health because you are so busy caring for your loved one.

Types of Home Care Services

There are a few different types of in-home care services to choose from. The one you choose will depend on your loved one’s overall health, their needs and preferences, and your schedule, goals, and budget. The most common types of home care services are:

Skilled Nursing Care – Skilled nursing care is provided in your home by a registered nurse. It is for patients who have a short- or long-term health condition, injury, or illness. It includes wound care, administering medication, taking vital signs, monitoring health equipment, IV treatment, pain management, and mobility assistance. It may also include physical, speech, or occupational therapy.
Doctor Care – Doctor care is typically used for an acute or chronic medical condition or illness and for services that a registered nurse cannot provide.
Home Health Care – Home health care is medical care provided in the home. It may include a combination of skilled nursing care and doctor care, and can be short-term or long-term.
In-home Care – In-home care is nonmedical home care that includes assistance with the tasks of daily living, companionship, transportation, meal preparation, errands, housework, and medication reminders.
Respite Care – Respite care is short-term or ongoing care provided so a family caregiver can take a break. It can be used on a regular basis, or for a planned event, vacation, or other need.
Recovery Care – Recovery care is in-home care provided while an elderly person recovers from a temporary or short-term illness, injury, or surgery. It may include wound care, medication administration, mobility assistance, medical or IV treatment, vital sign monitoring, and physical or occupational therapy.
Home Hospice Care – Home hospice care is hospice care provided at home instead of in a facility. Hospice care is palliative, end-of-life care provided for people who have six months or less to live and no longer want to try curative treatments. Home hospice care includes pain management and keeping the person comfortable during the end stages of their life.

Health Benefits of Home Care Services

Allowing your loved one to age in place in the comfort of their own home offers amazing health benefits. Your loved one will be where they are most comfortable, surrounded by their own belongings.

Having an in-home caregiver reduces the risks of many of the complications of aging, including falls, injuries, medication misuse, wandering, malnutrition, and weight gain or loss.

Your loved one will also be less likely to catch illnesses as they won’t be around as many people all day.

Emotional Benefits of Home Care Services

In-home care also offers social, emotional, and mental health benefits for elderly loved ones. Your loved one will be at a much lower risk of isolation, depression, and anxiety if they have a home caregiver or family caregiver.

They will get daily mental stimulation, socialization, and conversation. They will also be more encouraged to keep up with their hobbies and interests because they will have someone to share them with.

Safety Benefits of Home Care Services

Hiring an in-home caregiver or senior care specialist will reduce your loved one’s risk of an accident, injury, or other safety issues. Your loved one will have mobility assistance and assistance with daily living tasks that could easily cause injury, like getting in and out of the shower, in and out of bed, and dressing themselves.

If they do injure themselves, they will get medical attention right away. In-home care and family caregiving also reduces the risk of a fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and burglaries.

Comfort and Security Provided by In-Home Care

Home care services provide comfort and security to your loved one and your family. You will have less stress knowing that your family member is being cared for while you are at work, running errands, or taking care of your own needs.

Your loved one also won’t need to worry about selling their home or moving into an assisted living facility or retirement home. They can remain in their own home where they feel safe and comfortable.

Financial Benefits of In-Home Care

In-home care services also offer financial benefits for you and your loved one. In-home care services are often significantly less expensive than a Continuing Care Retirement Community, assisted living, and inpatient dementia care or Alzheimer’s care.

If you and other family members provide family caregiving services and use an in-home care agency for respite care, you will likely spend even less.

Learn More About In-Home Care Services

If you’re interested in learning more about in-home care services in Southern Arizona, reach out to us at Placita In Home Care. We have a team of experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable in-home caregivers who can offer a wide range of home health services on your schedule, according to your needs and goals.

We specialize in elder care, memory care, Alzheimer’s care, joint replacement care, and in-home hospice care. We also offer home safety evaluations and assisted living placement services.

Call us today or contact us online to learn more about our in-home care services or to schedule an appointment with us for a consultation.