The Benefits of In-Home Care

Thriving at Home (October 2015)

by Sarah Lane

When agencies providing in-home care services, such as FirstLight Home Care, were introduced into the nation’s health care system, it was to ensure senior citizens had access to basic care within the comfort and privacy of their homes.

If you have a parent or aging family member who needs extra assistance to remain living independently, you may be wondering how home care compares with the option of moving your loved one into a senior facility.  In other words, what are the primary benefits of home care?

• Staying at home.
  A recent study by the American Association of Retired People (AARP) found that over 90 percent of older adults prefer the idea of living in the familiarity of their homes over moving to a retirement home or assisted living facility as they age. With the introduction of home care agencies, staying at home is now a sensible and practical option for your aging loved one.

• Maintaining independence as long as possible.
  Seniors are happier and healthier when living in their homes.  Home care provides invaluable assistance and support to older adults who are unable to perform many of the basic daily chores and living activities. Home care allows your loved one to “age in place,” living safely, independently and comfortably at home, regardless of age or ability level.

• Personalized services to fit every circumstance.
  The beauty of home care is that services can be tailored to the specific needs of every patient and situation – as much or as little care as necessary; short-term or long-term care; from a few hours a day up to 24/7 coverage; even as on-call or back-up to family caregivers. FirstLight Home Care also provides unique services to assist people who have specific health conditions, such as dementia, Parkinson’s, arthritis, ALS or MS.

• One-on-one care.
  Too often, caregivers in nursing homes are unable to provide attentive care because they have so many patients to attend to. Senior facilities often don’t offer the personalized services that many seniors need. Utilizing a home care agency also provides aging adults with added safety and security in their homes. Having caregivers with them means your loved one is more protected from possible accidents that might occur, like falling when using stairs, taking a shower or going for a walk around the neighborhood.

• More affordable than a nursing home, retirement home or assisted-living facility.
  Home care is often a more affordable way of providing care than moving into a facility. For example, according to the 2015 Cost of Care Survey conducted by Genworth Financial, a Fortune 500 insurance company, the median cost of a one-bedroom residence in an assisted-living community is $4,525 per month here in Thurston County. In contrast, the cost of having a caregiver from FirstLight Home Care spend 30 hours/week caring personally for your family member is nearly 30% less.

• The best caregivers.
  The caregivers at FirstLight Home Care are highly trained and certified professionals who are passionate about providing compassionate, reliable care to aging and disabled adults. Utilizing our extensive screening and superior hiring standards, FirstLight Home Care is proud of our reputation of having the best caregivers in the home care industry.

Call FirstLight Home Care for a free comprehensive in-home assessment to see if home care services are the right choice for your loved one.

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“Thriving at Home” is a monthly column by Sarah Lane, a certified Home Care Aide and owner of FirstLight Home Care — South Sound.  To learn more about home care, respite care, dementia care, or any of the non-medical home care services offered by FirstLight Home Care, give Sarah a call at 360-489-1621 or go to www.southsound.firstlighthomecare.com.