Using your county’s Agency on Aging can be a valuable resource. These state run offices allow you to gain information and resources that can assist you with helping out your elderly loved ones. California has many of these throughout the state, and they can get you headed in the right direction when it comes to finding the right type of senior care. The California Department of Aging is a valuable partner when it comes to taking care of your family, and it can take a lot of the stress out of your life.
First, realize that a core part of their mission and vision is to help the elderly maintain independence and a high quality of life. Many other care resources share similar goals. This is exactly what in-home care tries to impart upon seniors. It has been found that when seniors have more of a say in their care, and that they are in a place where they are happy, they tend to rate the quality of life and their enjoyment higher. It also tends to lead to better physical health as their is more motivation to take care of themselves. Relocating puts a lot of stress on older people, and it can cause rapid mental and physical health declines. This is something we want to avoid, and using your available resources can get you a step closer to making this happen. This department also stands for advocacy of seniors, and for quality care. They are there, in other words, to make sure that your elderly loved ones get the best care possible. If it’s in-home care, they will advocate for that. If it’s a nursing home, then that is the direction they will guide you toward. Each person has their own needs, and the highest quality care needs to take that into account.
This particular service manages a lot of state and federal funded assistance programs. There is a focus on veterans, but if you have a loved one that is a senior citizen and in need, they will guide you in the right direction, regardless of their veteran status. There is also a particular emphasis on those with disabilities, including dementia, as both of these populations often have difficulty speaking up for themselves and taking care of their own basic needs.
One nice thing about their site is that there is a service finder located on their website. If you live in Contra Costa county, for example, you can click on your county name and find a whole list of resources available to residents here. There are phone numbers and hotlines you can call to ensure your loved one’s safety, and probably a lot of things to help you that you had never considered before.
Senior care is one step in the process of caring for an elderly parent. It is one of the most primary pieces of the puzzle, though, because it accounts for the majority of their waking day, and it provides a framework for which other things can revolve around. Other states have similar services to this, so if you live elsewhere, make sure that you visit your state’s site in order to get more helpful information.
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