One of the greatest needs of older adults who wish to age in place is to have someone helping them with their daily living activities. Personal care assistance will make it possible for older adults to fulfill their personal needs while staying in an environment where they feel most comfortable in. If you have an older loved one who needs help with their activities of daily living, find out more about the importance of personal care assistance.
Personal Care Assistance
Personal care assistance includes offering services that help older adults in the following ways:
- Handling toileting and incontinence care
- Maintain their personal hygiene by helping them with dressing, bathing, and grooming
- Eat meals, for those with difficulty in feeding
- Overall mobility like transferring from the chair to the bed and to other locations
Apart from offering assistance with daily living activities, personal care assistance also helps older adults with daily chores. The chores include the following:
- Laundry
- Washing dishes
- Dusting
- Vacuuming and sweeping
- Meal preparation
- Making beds
- Taking care of pets
- Grocery shopping
- Running errands
Most importantly, older adults can enjoy companionship which is essential for their mental health. Those who are aging in place without a family member or friend may fall into a state of depression or anxiety due to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Personal care assistance provides older adults with the following opportunities:
- Help with exercise routines or therapy
- Regular health monitoring
- Access to nutritious meals
- Social and recreational activities
- Meaningful conversations or emotional support
Personal Care Assistance in Assisted Living
In an assisted living community, residents are provided specialized care for all their personal and medical needs by trained professionals with healthcare experience. Residents can lead a much more enriching retirement where their life goals can be achieved within a safe and comfortable environment. Apart from receiving assistance in the different aspects of their health, residents also have the opportunity to pursue their personal interests and explore new hobbies with their fellow neighbors. For older adults with medical problems, there is also an on-site wellness center that provides therapy and rehabilitation services to help them maintain their mobility. Transportation services are also available to bring residents to their doctor’s appointments and other destinations so they can commute to and from town with ease.
Respite Care
Respite care is available for caregivers who require temporary relief from their caregiving duties. Whether they need to take a break or have an emergency matter to attend to, respite care is the ideal solution that offers their aging loved ones the attention they need in a comfortable and safe environment. Their loved ones will receive personal care assistance along with basic healthcare support around the clock. Care services can range from medication management, glucose and blood pressure monitoring, insulin administration, and health monitoring. Caregivers can enroll their loved ones in a respite care community where they will have a chance to socialize and participate in various activities that support their overall health. At the end of the respite care program, patients get to return to their own place of residence.
