Making a big decision can be tough, especially when it’s a decision that affects not just you, but the people that you love. That’s how a lot of people approach senior care; it’s a big decision, and if the wrong decision is made, people you love could be affected adversely. However, that doesn’t mean that you should hold off on making a choice. The sooner you make a concrete choice, the sooner help can be received. And even if you make a “wrong” choice, the sooner you make it, the sooner you can make the right choice and get the person you care so much about the level of help that they deserve.
The best way to approach the issue is by taking small steps. This is the right way for a few reasons. One, small steps eliminate tough transitions. Transitions, especially when they involve moving to a new location, have been shown to take a negative toll on senior citizens with advanced dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In-home care is a perfect first choice because it is minimally intrusive. Your loved one doesn’t need to go anywhere, instead, the care comes to them. It keeps them in a familiar setting and keeps their lifestyle relatively unchanged. The only difference is that you get more help taking care of your family member’s daily tasks. As you know, these can become overwhelming after a while, especially if you have to do everything yourself. With a caregiver helping out a few hours per day, the burden is eased and you can get more things done during the day.
The second reason that small steps are best is because much of the time, a small step is the only thing you need to do. Instead of going all out and placing your loved one in a fancy, state of the art assisted living facility, you can have a caregiver come to the house, and most of the time, this takes care of every single present need. The simplest solution is usually the best, and in this case, it is often the cheapest and most beneficial, too. It gives your loved one the care they want and need, and it does it at a low cost.
The third reason, and perhaps the best reason for your loved one, is that it is often exactly what they want. No one likes upheavals in their life, especially when they are already feeling a bit vulnerable. That’s what moving into an assisted living facility is for someone in this situation. Yes, it keeps them safe, but it is still an upheaval. For some, this might be the best choice, but for many others, it’s not. Most elderly folk wish to stay in their homes for as long as they can, and if you can achieve this with in-home care, then it is a good idea to do so. In-home care can help your loved one get their needs around the house met, and keep them as happy as possible at the same time. Aging in place is a win-win situation.
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