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What Is Home Care?

What Is Home Care?

July 13, 2023

When it comes to determining the right level of care for you or your loved one, there is rarely an easy way to do it. The decision itself is often fraught with feelings and can be complicated by the unique circumstances every family brings to the table when considering questions of this nature. However, knowledge is power, as they say, and LivWell Seniors is happy to help with a high-level introduction to the basics that will leave you feeling prepared to take whatever step is next in the journey ahead.

Let’s face it, most people don’t want to leave the comfort of their own home until the end of life if at all possible, and home care can provide essential services to make this a possibility for many people.

What?

Home care can provide essential services and varying levels of care when a person needs some assistance with any of their activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, dressing, medication management, grocery shopping, errand services, and transportation to the doctor or other appointments. In addition, some light duty household assistance like laundry and cooking or meal prep is also available as in-home care.

Who?

Anyone who needs assistance maintaining their home and/or requires assistance with their ADLs.

Consider This Scenario

Your parents built their home 50 years ago, and your 83-year-old mother has been living there alone since your father passed away a few years ago. Battling dementia, she often forgets to eat or take her medicine, posing concerns about her safety. While she has experienced a few falls, miraculously avoiding serious injuries, the fear of inevitable harm looms large. Her ability to prepare nutritious meals has diminished, and she’s given up driving, making trips to the grocery store and pharmacy a challenge. Although encouraged to use a walker or cane at home, she adamantly refuses. You and your siblings rotate, aiding her, when possible. However, with the responsibilities of your own children and grandchildren, it’s a demanding juggling act.

As a family, you make a crucial decision to seek the assistance of a home care provider. This dedicated individual attends to your mother three days a week: four hours in the morning and four in the evening. During these visits, she assists your mother in starting her day, prepares easily re-heat able meals, ensures she takes her prescribed medication, and helps her retire for the night. This arrangement provides your family with peace of mind, knowing she’s looked after between your visits, which alleviates some of the collective strain.

Cost

Around $35 per hour, depending on the market. This route can be cost prohibitive as full-time in-home care (8 hours a day for 5 days a week) is more expensive than assisted living.

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