Elderly And Alone? Understanding How Live-In Care Could Benefit Your Situation

As most people approach the retirement years, they often begin to have concerns about how they will cope if health or mobility issues arise. Many hope that they will be able to depend upon their grown children and other close family members to help them deal with any temporary assistance needs that might arise, such as those related to an illness or injury. 

While this type of temporary help is important, older individuals who live alone without the potential safety net provided by relatives or close friends often feel they must enter a residential nursing facility or assisted living center if a problem with health or mobility arises. Those who want to remain in their own homes, even when struggling with age, illness, or injury, may be able to use live-in care options to succeed with their goals.

Security and peace of mind

One of the most important reasons to consider one or more live-in care options is to enjoy more peace of mind regarding your living situation. When an elderly person lives alone without the benefit of frequent visits from family or friends, they often struggle with concerns about their personal safety and security. A common example of this is when an elderly person with mobility issues worries about falling in their home and being unable to arise or call for help. 

Another example of the improved peace of mind that can come with using live-in care options is knowing that someone else is in the home with you who could call for emergency help should someone attempt to break into the home. Live-in caregivers are also able to help with daily needs that can become too difficult to handle due to illness or mobility issues, such as collecting the mail or dealing with deliveries. 

Meals and medications 

Many elderly people struggle with good eating habits, even though they know how important nutrition is to maintaining or rebuilding good health. Shopping, meal planning, and even simple food preparation can become too difficult or tiring, so many elderly people find themselves opting to snack on processed foods instead of preparing a balanced meal. 

Medications can also be a problem for many elderly people who live alone and struggle with health or mobility issues, especially if dementia or other memory-related issues are a concern. Live-in caregivers are also able to help older adults manage their medications better, including ordering refills and maintaining a proper dosing schedule. 

Live-in caregivers offer important benefits to older individuals who hope to continue living as independently as possible within their own homes. To learn more, consider discussing your current situation and expected care needs with a reputable agency. They can provide further information regarding live-in care.