The Toll of Being a Caregiver
Serving as a caregiver in any capacity is a beautiful gesture. For many older individuals, especially, having the support of trusted relatives or friends while living in their own homes brings an extra level of familiarity and comfort.
However, far too many individuals are often faced with the task of caregiving alone and with limited resources. And even with additional familial support, managing a full-time job and other responsibilities while providing regular aid can quickly become exhausting and costly.
Thankfully, long-term care services are an option—and they’re not limited to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Home care, home health care, and respite care are all options seniors can receive that allow them and their family members to maintain a healthy quality of life on their own terms.
What Does Having a Home Care Provider Entail?
Home care services provide much-needed assistance to elderly individuals, including Veterans, helping them perform day-to-day tasks while residing at home. The home care team helps the individual perform basic activities such as:
- Eating
- Meal Preparation
- Grocery Shopping
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Personal Grooming & Hygiene
- Medication Reminders
- Light Housekeeping
While these tasks are generally considered unskilled work, they’re intended to help the recipient remain comfortably in their home for as long as possible.
The Difference Between a Home Care Provider and a Home Health Care Provider
While often used interchangeably, home care and home health care services differ slightly. Unlike a home care aide, a home health care provider is a skilled nursing professional that helps treat chronic medical conditions and ensures Veterans and seniors receive needed medical care after a hospital stay. This service is especially ideal for family caregivers of a disabled individual with limited resources. Home care providers may not need formal training, however, home health aides must meet specific professional requirements.
Want to learn more about the differences between these personal care options? Read our blog below:
The Benefits of Personal Care Services
Regardless of type, investing in personal care services comes with many perks. They’re great for:
1. Assisting With Activities of Daily Living
One of the biggest draws of both home care and home health care services is the guarantee that the recipient will receive support with activities of daily living. This includes the aforementioned personal care activities like grooming, using the toilet, eating, and practicing personal hygiene. With these major needs fulfilled, seniors can stay comfortable, improving their mental health.
2. Giving Seniors the Independence They Desire
As we age, we often lose access to the mobility and energy we once had, lending us vulnerable to the whims of our caretakers. Plus, many seniors who become residents at assisted living facilities feel they have much less autonomy than they should, especially with specific visit hours, scheduled eating and activity times, etc. These conditions often contribute to older people feeling depressed about their situation and their lack of control as an adult.
Providing professional caregiving services to the senior’s home allows them to go about their regular schedule freely. Instead of feeling like a patient trapped in a sterile facility, they can feel empowered as an active decision-maker in their affairs.
3. Relieving a Burden off Of Family Caregivers
Being a family caregiver without pay or compensation can easily foster tension between each party, as an overworked caretaker can quickly become stressed. The toll of their responsibilities could simply become too much one day, contributing to a potentially hostile environment where the family member either takes their resentment out on their loved one or develops health problems of their own.
Having that extra support is crucial, especially if the caregiver invests in respite care. Under this solution, spouses, children, and other family members can get a much-needed break while taking a brief time away to refocus on themselves and their mental state while a professional caregiver steps in.
4. Providing a Cost-Effective Level of Care
Caregiving fees can get expensive rather quickly. This is especially true for seniors with disabilities or those battling chronic diseases. Instead of shelling out thousands of dollars in personal care expenses per year with limited payoff, most home aides can provide cheaper services with better benefits. Many services are sponsored through organizations like AVCC, which are known to connect people of varying backgrounds with cost-efficient care options.
5. Offering Needed Companionship and Social Interaction
We are all social creatures—and even in old age, we deserve companionship. Much like the lack of independence, many seniors struggle with feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially if they live alone. Many friends and family either pass away or move on with their lives in new areas, and frequent contact becomes rare without the help of others.
Thankfully, having a daily home health care provider or home care aide to interact with can provide the perfect amount of social interaction. At any skill level, they can give intriguing conversation and emotional support, significantly improving their mental well-being.
Key Takeaways
- While fulfilling, being an unpaid family caregiver to a senior can take a mental, emotional, and financial toll no one needs.
- To alleviate this issue, investing in home care or home health care services is a viable option.
- There are five particular benefits a personal care provider can offer to seniors: assisting with activities of daily living, promoting independence, relieving the burden off of family, saving money, and providing companionship.
AVCC Helps Secure Veterans’ Home Care Benefits and More
At AVCC, we assist Veterans and their loved ones with accessing the healthcare resources they deserve. From Aid and Attendance benefits to Veteran Emergency Assistance and beyond, we simplify the process by handling the busywork and providing a strong support system for Veterans, their surviving spouses, and other family members. Take advantage of our connections to an extensive network of experienced care providers and get the support your loved one deserves today,
Learn more about our extensive services and get your home care referral today.
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