Most people want to age in place. It’s not surprising—it’s where their stuff is, where they’ve spent the most time, where their memories are. But wanting to age in place and aging in place successfully are two entirely different things.
Aging in place can be an appropriate option for some people and an incredibly dangerous and unfortunate situation for others. Typically, it hinges on the right help at the right time—not too much, not too little, and definitely not help of the wrong kind.
When “Just Coping” Is No Longer Good Enough
For example, many families find themselves in such situations: Dad is doing okay—slow and forgetful here and there; Mom is handling most of the household tasks, albeit exhausted; everyone is getting by. Then, a hospital admission for a fall occurs, or someone messes up medication dosages, or daily tasks that were difficult but manageable six months ago have become genuinely impossible. What once worked no longer does.
The problem is that many families wait until a crisis occurs to determine the help they need. It’s too late. You’re scrambling to ensure safety and well-being—and who wants to make these decisions under pressure?
What Needs to Get Done Day-to-Day
When looking at what it takes to function daily without assistance, it becomes complicated quickly. There’s cooking, there’s cleaning, there’s getting dressed—but then there’s medication adherence (and what happens when your loved one takes six different medications at six different times?); there’s doctor’s appointments (and getting to them) and bills (and managing them).
Additionally, people need social stimulation with mental stimulation. There needs to be some physical movement (getting up and down instead of being sedentary) and a person to gauge someone’s overall well-being (if they’re confused about dinner, eating poorly, or exhibiting health concerns that need attention).
Generally, one person cannot do all of this on their own, especially as they grapple with personal challenges associated with aging. Additionally, family nearby can assist but inconsistently, as they also have their jobs and children to manage.
The Levels of Help
This is where understanding the options available to you makes all the difference. Home care is not one-size-fits-all. Sometimes a person only needs one visit a week for light housekeeping and social stimulation; sometimes, one needs daily care visits or 24/7 assistance.
For many families across the region, professional care services in Feasterville-Trevose are incredibly customizable for exactly what you need—personal care needs, meal preparation, medication reminders….the list goes on.
It’s crucial to be honest about what is needed vs. what you wish was needed. If your mom needs help getting in and out of the shower safely—and needs someone she trusts to do this—the neighbor who visits twice a week isn’t going to cut it any longer.
What Professional Caregivers Do That Family Caregivers Cannot
There’s a crucial difference between relying on family as caregivers as opposed to trained caregivers. Caregivers who are family care because they care—but they don’t care because they’re not trained. They’re not trained in transfers, wound care, or recognizing the early signs of health decline and intervention.
Caregiver professionals see the writing on the wall before it’s too late. They understand dementia and mobility issues; they can protect in infections, mediate medication handover situations and respond in emergencies. Caregiver professionals are trained beyond belief—and that training makes more of a difference than anyone realizes until it’s too late.
Not to mention—they show up at specific times. There aren’t conflicting family appointments. Caregiving isn’t a side gig; it’s a job that professional caregivers do—which makes a significant difference in consistent outcomes for professionals instead of family members trying to do their best when they can fit everything in and manage their lives, as well.
The Cost Families Are Afraid To Approach
Let’s talk about cost because that’s often the elephant in the room—cost is through the roof and family is surprised at how much money potential home care costs when it’s finally assessed versus how many hours are needed to deem it helpful. Sometimes it’s hard to justify the numbers seeing why people avoid these options initially due to sticker shock from what’s advertised online.
But from another perspective—what’s it going to cost when someone falls and breaks a hip because they tried to do something they shouldn’t? What’s it going to cost when medication problems result in a hospitalization? What happens when a family member has to quit their job because they must dedicate time elsewhere?
When you run the numbers—hospital avoidance through readmission penalties, nursing home placement avoidance through quality control measures—that professional home care makes more sense than it seems on paper when factoring in no one in your family who can work part-time as a caregiver plus additional responsibilities for at-home loved ones—home care becomes affordable even if you pay out of pocket without insurance support.
For example, some veterans’ benefits may apply; long-term care insurance plans afford the found costs; Medicaid programs cover expenses that may apply! Once all options are explored—as well as what’s minimally needed versus what everyone assumes they’ll have no problem doing on their own—many families discover there’s available support through cheaper means that allows an extended response without all of the upfront costs.
Making It Work Long-Term After Set Up
Getting help is one thing; making it work is another. The best help from a professional caregiver comes from high-quality communication between everyone—the senior, the family members, the caregiver professionals—and doctors.
There need to be high standards set for check-ins along this process—how’s it going? Is something easy? Too hard? Has it been three months since we reassessed how we could do X better?… Is everyone on board with safety measures and communication styles? Treating caregivers as professionals equals making them part of a more considerable team instead of making them feel like intruders or housekeepers who shouldn’t be there otherwise.
Still—the senior themselves must have as much power over decision-making as possible; what’s best for them must be taken into account whenever possible. When mandated treatment occurs—with caregivers or without—a battle often emerges. However, when someone can establish how their team looks like, potentially why they’ll need more time or need extra help without judgment—it makes all the difference in making successful accommodations once help finally comes.
The Bottom-Line Reality Check
The right help makes aging in place not only possible but enjoyable. It means seniors are eating good meals; they’re taking medications correctly; they’re being socially cautious about needing companionship/care during vulnerable efforts; the family members who hoped they would be caregivers could become family members again with no questions attached! It’s easy. It’s comfortable. And it works. Because that’s where people feel most like home.
Edward