There are many instances when home care is a perfectly appropriate care choice rather than nursing home placement or a permanent move to a retirement or assisted living facility. Whether a little amount of home care is needed to help avoid a future crisis, or sporadic home care is required following an acute illness or a fall, home care can enable one to reside and recuperate in comfortable, familiar surroundings.
How does one determine if home care is appropriate care choice for a particular person?
Look at Activities of Daily Living, those things that people do on a daily basis. These activities are fundamental to caring for oneself and maintaining independence: bathing, getting dressed, getting in or out of bed or a chair, eating and getting around or walking.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living are activities related to independent living and include preparing meals, shopping for groceries, maintaining a residence, doing housework, taking medications, using a telephone, handling mail and traveling via a car or public transportation.
Recognizing a person’s limitations is the first step in developing a care plan to provide the appropriate type and level of assistance.
When aspects of daily life become challenging, a natural reaction for many people is avoidance. Rather than enabling someone to withdraw and isolate, caregivers should develop a plan that meets the physical, social and psychological needs of the care recipient.
Hillendale Home Care can provide a complete geriatric assessment with a suggestion for care needs.
