Monday, February 26, 2018
It’s not uncommon for adult children to struggle with finding the right care for aging parents. Most elderly people aren’t interested in having a stranger in their home to help with everyday activities, but are also resistant to living in a nursing home. Having a candid, yet respectful, conversation with your parent about their limitations and your concerns can help them accept in-home assistance.
To learn if in-home assistance is an option for your parent, our elder law attorney at Longstreet Elder Law & Estate Planning recommend reading our blog post and reaching out to a attorney to discuss financial feasibility.
Types of In-Home Assistance
There are two different types of in-home assistance, which include home health care services and in-home care services. Home health care services have a medical emphasis that focus on managing and administering medications, coordinating between health care providers, nursing, and physical therapy. In-home care services focus on personal care habits, meal preparation, or even just companionship.
Elder law attorneys can help your parent protect assets from being spent down for elder care services. A reputable elder law attorney will also be able to help your parent develop a financial plan for how they would like to spend their retirement years.
Does Household Chores and Shops for Groceries
An in-home care service provider can help with housekeeping, meal preparation, and even grocery shopping. The next time you visit your parent’s home, be sure to check out their fridge. An empty fridge or a fridge full of expired food is a sign that your loved one isn’t able to get to the grocery store enough to restock food supplies.
Assists with Personal Hygiene Routine
When people get older, it can be difficult for them to reach over their heads to shampoo their hair or wash their backs. As a result, it’s not uncommon for an elderly parent to neglect their personal hygiene habits such as bathing, shaving, or even brushing their teeth. In-home assistance will help your loved one maintain grooming habits so they can stay clean and healthy.
Offers Companionship
It’s not uncommon for elderly people to live alone as adult children start families of their own and spouses pass away. An in-home elder caretaker can be a great source of company for someone who has difficulty getting out of the home. Not only will your parent have someone to talk to, but this person will also be trained to help with household chores and provide personal care.
Offers Medical Assistance
If your loved one ever experiences a medical emergency at home, an in-home health care provider will be able to call 911 so they can get the care they need. You won’t have to worry about your loved one falling and not being able to get back up. Home health care service providers are also able to offer their nursing skills to do things like manage medications or administer injections.
Intrudes on Privacy
While elderly people can benefit greatly from in-home assistance, the effectiveness of the care depends on the provider. In-home assistance works best if the elder care provider is kind and respectful. However, if you go through a home care agency, there will be several workers assigned to your parent.
While this ensures there will always be someone around to help out if one of the workers gets sick or needs time off, it also means a bigger intrusion on your parent’s privacy. People may also be resistant to getting help because it means they have to accept that they’ve lost their independence.
If you are interested in hiring a elder law firm, please feel free to call our elder law attorneys in Michigan at (269) 945-3495. The knowledgeable elder law attorneys at Longstreet Elder Law & Estate Planning are dedicated to helping clients and their families make smooth transitions into retirement.
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