We are much more likely to live longer today than we were fifty years ago, which has led to an increase in the number of elderly people in the population and in the demand for various aged care services. Many elderly people prefer to stay at home as long as they (safely) can, but they will sometimes require some additional help to make this possible. If this sums up your ageing parent or relative’s outlook on life, you may be interested in learning more about the home aged care services that are currently available.
• Family and Friends
This is one of the more preferable services, mostly because it is free and allows the family and friends of an elderly person to be actively involved in their lives. Do not feel as if you have to take on the role of full time carer, however, as it is likely that you already lead a very busy life (with a job, errands and children of your own), but make the effort to help out your parent where you can. Perhaps you could do their grocery shopping on the weekend or when you do your own, for example.
• Home Nurses/Social Workers
Some hospitals and aged care facilities will offer a service that involves nurses going out to an elderly person’s home on a basis that suits that person (daily, every second day, once a week, and so on). The nurse will help the elderly person to complete any of the daily tasks that they may have difficulty with (such as doing washing, cooking and bathing) and will also be trained to administer any medications that the elderly person may currently be on.
• Meal Services
Whilst this aged care service doesn’t offer an elderly person much in the way of support and assistance in the home, it can provide them with a hot meal once a day (or even more often if they go with a program like Lite ‘n’ Easy). In this way, children can rest assured that their parents are eating properly and are receiving plenty of variety in their diet and elderly parents can still feel independent in their own homes.
Utilizing one or more of the above aged care services can make staying at home longer possible for many elderly people in the community, as this is where they would prefer to be. You may also find it helpful to meet with a financial adviser regarding any of the above services, as they will be able to take a look at your finances and let you know whether you can afford such a decision.
By providing the certain aged care services to the ageing parents, you can make their life more comfortable at home.