Older family members who still live at home may need additional help with daily living activities. Hiring an in-home caregiver or home health care aide can give your loved one companionship and attention while also protecting their health and safety.

An in-home caregiver can assist your loved one with the activities of daily living, which can reduce your loved one’s risk of injuring themselves or neglecting their personal hygiene or health.

Here is a look at how a professional home healthcare agency can assist your loved one with daily living activities.

What Is In-Home Care?

In-home care<> is the term used to describe home health services that are provided in the comfort of your loved one’s own home. Rather than moving into an assisted living facility or retirement home, your loved one can remain at home with their own belongings and pets.

A home caregiver will come to their home during specific hours to help them with specific tasks like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, medication reminders, and light housekeeping.

A caregiver can also offer companionship and reduce your loved one’s risk of feeling lonely or isolated. Hiring a caregiver can also protect your loved one’s health and safety and lower their risk of a fall or injury.

What Are the Signs Your Loved One Needs In-Home Care?

It may be hard for you or your loved one to admit that it is time to consider in-home care. However, without help, your loved one may have a higher risk of a fall, injury, or illness.

They may also be at a greater risk of a break-in, scam or fraud attempts, and isolation and depression. Start talking to your loved one and other family members about the possibility of hiring an in-home caregiver if you notice any of these signs:

Frequent falls, trips, or injuries
Health concerns, such as weight loss, malnutrition, or dehydration
Poor hygiene or lack of grooming
A messy house and neglect of regular household chores
Social isolation or depression
Trouble managing daily medication dosages
Broken appliances or other areas of the house that are in disrepair
Spoiled food in the fridge
Neglected pets
Mobility issues or worsening health concerns

What Are Daily Living Activities?

Activities of daily living (ADL) are the activities you complete every day that are necessary for health, hygiene, comfort, and sanitation. The most common ADLs are:

Bathing
Grooming
Dressing
Toileting
Eating

As your loved one ages, there are many factors that can affect their ability to complete some or all of the activities of daily living. They may have health issues, mobility problems, injuries or illnesses, or cognitive issues that prevent them from safely completing their daily routine.

When this happens, they are at a greater risk of a fall, accident, injury, illness, discomfort, and depression. Hiring an in-home caregiver can help your loved one age in place in the comfort of their own home while still getting the care and companionship they need to stay safe.

Benefits of Professional In-Home Care for Assistance With ADLs

An in-home caregiver can help your loved one take care of themselves in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Moving into an assisted living facility can be traumatic, and your loved one may not be able to bring all of their belongings with them.

They may not be able to keep their pets, either. Working with a home health agency can delay your loved one’s need for around-the-clock care and put off the process of moving them out of their home. Some of the benefits of hiring a professional senior care specialist to help your loved one with the activities of daily living are:

Help your loved one retain their independence and have some control over their environment
Reduce your loved one’s risk of a fall or injury
Get professional support and advice on mobility assistance, medication management, home safety, and more
Help your loved one adhere to their medication schedule and dosage
Reduce the risk of malnutrition or vitamin deficiencies by helping your loved one stick to a regular meal schedule
Provide your loved one with consistent care and companionship
Help your loved one maintain the hygiene and safety of their home
Allow your loved one to remain in a comfortable, familiar environment with all of their belongings
Give your loved one personalized attention and one-on-one care

What Daily Activities Do Caregivers Provide Assistance With?

In-home caregivers provide a wide range of services that can be personalized to your loved one’s unique needs. You can work out a schedule with your loved one’s caregiver and rely on them to arrive at your loved one’s home at a specific time on specific days.

You can also hire a home caregiver for respite care so that you and other family members can take a break. In-home caregivers can provide assistance with the following activities of daily living:

Personal Hygiene – An in-home caregiver can assist with tasks related to personal hygiene, including bathing and showering, dressing and undressing, brushing and styling hair, oral hygiene, nail and skincare, and toileting assistance.

Mobility Assistance – If your loved one uses a mobility aid or has a hard time getting around on their own, a caregiver can ensure they get from one place to another safely. They can provide walking assistance, help your loved one get in and out of bed, help your loved one transfer from a wheelchair to a chair or bed, help your loved one use an assistive device, and help your loved one get in and out of the shower or to and from the toilet.

Meal Preparation – Some caregivers offer assistance with meal preparation. They can cook or prepare meals according to your loved one’s dietary needs and preferences. They may also assist with mealtime setup and cleanup.

Medication Adherence – You may also be able to find a home caregiver who can help your loved one maintain medication adherence. They can remind your loved one to take medication at the right times, measure out the right dosage, and help your loved one avoid missed doses, medication misuse, or accidental overdoses.

They can also provide help and assistance in other areas, and you may be able to customize the level of services your loved one needs. Other services in-home caregivers provide are:

Companionship – A caregiver can help your loved one feel less isolated and lonely.

Transportation – Some caregivers can provide transportation to and from medical appointments, grocery shopping, or to social engagements.

Light Housekeeping – Some caregivers offer assistance with light housekeeping, such as washing dishes, doing laundry, caring for pets, and more.

Alzheimer’s Care and Memory Care – Some home caregivers offer more specialized support, providing services like Alzheimer’s care and dementia care for elderly people who have been diagnosed with dementia.

Joint Replacement Care – If your loved one is recovering from a joint replacement surgery or other type of illness or surgery, a home caregiver can offer specialized assistance.

Schedule a Consultation for In-Home Care in Southern Arizona

At Placita In Home Care, we have a team of skilled, compassionate caregivers who offer personalized home health care services. We work with families throughout Southern Arizona and tailor our services to each client’s unique needs and schedules.

We offer assistance with the tasks of daily living, such as toileting, personal hygiene, dressing, mobility assistance, meal preparation, and medication adherence.

We also offer companionship and socialization. To schedule a consultation for in-home care in the Tucson or Phoenix metro area, call us today or fill out our contact form online.