Elderly parents are the backbone of our families. Therefore, caring for them and ensuring their health and safety becomes a basic duty of children. Today, millions of families juggle busy work schedules, housework, child care, and caring for loved ones who are elderly, disabled, or bedridden. Balancing work, family stress, and emotional needs can be psychologically pressuring for many, and they may not find enough time to care for their beloved parents. In some cases, elderly parents and adult children live far apart, separated in different cities, distant regions, and sometimes different countries. In such cases, living alone at home can be truly dangerous for the elderly due to aging factors, infectious diseases or geriatric diseases, or the risk of falls and injuries. Many elderly people in our time often struggle to care for themselves while living alone. Dependence on daily life increases with age. In such situations, home care can be a good choice for both the elderly and their families.
Studies show that 50% of the elderly fight at least two chronic diseases, and 4 out of 5 fight at least one geriatric disease. If a beloved parent is bedridden, recovering from a long-term illness, surgery, or fall, or experiencing aging-related degeneration, family caregiving at home is very helpful. Recently, nursing facilities have been made very well, but what many elderly people still prefer is 'Aging in Place', that is, they want to stay at home and receive care comfortably in their own home where they have lived so far for as long as possible as they age, rather than moving to retirement apartments or long-term nursing home facilities. Aging in Place is an alternative to elderly care that requires only a little help with daily activities and meets needs while enjoying a close network with family and friends nearby. If the right home care service can be provided, it can be a viable option that satisfies both the elderly and their families. Many saint families are also caring for the elderly at home. There are several benefits to home care where the elderly receive care in their own homes.
1. To Help Recovery After Illness, Injury, or Surgery
Seniors who have recently undergone surgery or are recovering from illness or injury can have a comfortable recovery period at home. If there is a trained caregiver in the family, recovery is easy and hassle-free. Family caregivers know their elderly parents well, so if they learn general common sense or essential skills, they are efficient in helping the elderly heal smoothly. Even if the beloved parent is physically uncomfortable or uncomfortable in mind, the family caregiver can help by adjusting appropriately to the elderly's situation so that they can easily overcome all difficulties in daily life. Helping to perform several daily activities such as bathing, personal hygiene, hair care, nail care, bed preparation, recording various symptoms, assistance during movement, daily activities, and performing routine exercises is the duty of the caregiver. If the family can support such care, the elderly can spend their old age comfortably.
2. To Support Toileting and Hygiene
People who are bedridden or cannot move freely cannot go to the bathroom and have difficulty maintaining personal hygiene. If a family caregiver living together at home undergoes a little training, they will help support the elderly's movement to the bathroom and maintain cleanliness to protect against further infection. In the case of patients who have difficulty accessing the bathroom at all, the caregiver can help with washing face or bathing, brushing teeth, skin care, and changing adult diapers for defecation. It is comfortable for elderly patients to ask and entrust personal hygiene or help to family rather than other caregivers.
3. To Prevent Falls and Injuries
Often, older adults have poor balance and reduced physical function, making them vulnerable to falls and injuries while performing daily activities. And people who are sick and bedridden are much more prone to falling and suffering physical injuries when they try to get up to perform simple daily activities. A caregiver at home can be a great comfort not only to the elderly but also to the rest of the family. Home caregivers care for the elderly, provide everything needed immediately, support safe movement from one place to another, and boost morale so that elderly patients can lead a positive life. Therefore, having a caregiver at home can prevent health risks such as slipping, fractures, falls, and fractures of the elderly and secure safety. Instead, anti-slip fall prevention facilities should be equipped in the house. Society is moving from a super-aged society to a caregiving society, but laws and regulations necessary for home care have not yet been socially equipped. Each person must equip safety facilities at home and serve the elderly.
4. To Improve Mobility
For most elderly people suffering from joint pain, physical weakness due to aging, arthritis, and muscle weakness, even small movements can be burdensome and overwhelming. The elderly can be restricted in movement no matter how close the place is, and restricted mobility gives psychological anxiety and frustration. So elderly people with mobility problems become psychologically weaker than other elderly people. Some try to stand up independently on purpose, but they may be afraid to move around the house due to fear of falling due to lack of balance and actually muscle and joint pain. Families caring at home should help elderly parents perform daily physical activities smoothly and safely. Caregivers also need to encourage the elderly to perform all prescribed exercises to improve balance, strengthen bones, and improve mobility.
5. To Provide Emotional Support
Medical facilities for the elderly, such as nursing homes or nursing hospitals, often tend to separate the elderly from their families, which significantly affects the overall health status of the elderly. On the other hand, in the case of caring for elderly parents at home, it provides comfort and safety by allowing the elderly to receive services next to their families. As those who have experienced it know, elderly people need careful attention when caring for them. When families care for them at home rather than in outside facilities, there is no need to worry about whether the beloved parent is okay. So it gives peace of mind to both the elderly and the family. Also, caring for a beloved parent suffering from dementia is really hard and difficult. Families often lack the experience and skills to understand the conditions of the elderly and have not learned the skills to properly care for their parents. It is also quite painful to see a beloved parent decline mentally. If there is a qualified caregiver in the family, they understand the condition of the dementia patient and have all the skills and experience to handle the dementia patient correctly, so they can provide a lot of support. Even without a dementia certificate, if you can get support from other experts, home care is very comfortable for the elderly.
6. To Improve the Quality of Life for the Elderly
Elderly parents move their minds here and there even while they are sick, disabled, or advised to rest in bed. They feel most comfortable at home than in other places. If a family member volunteers to care for the elderly, they can help the elderly experience an improved quality of life comfortably at home. Professional caregivers help the elderly move safely, perform all necessary physical exercises, and smoothly equip necessary items such as slippers, canes, medicine, and combs to promote quality improvement. Some medical studies of life have also revealed that people with care facilities at home live longer. Receiving professional care and emotional, physical, and medical support in a comfortable space helps the elderly to be healthier and live longer. Fortunately, there are many helpful materials available on the market, from facilities or equipment for elderly care to digital devices, so it is good to use them.
7. To Maintain Identity and Independence
The elderly value their freedom more than anything else. So the last important thing is that continuing to care for the elderly in the house where they lived helps them maintain independence and identity, which is especially important for elderly people experiencing age-related deterioration. Family caregivers support and encourage the elderly to live a daily life, interact with others who visit or visit, and pursue hobbies and activities even if they are lying down. This helps the elderly maintain identity and independence and have a positive approach to life. Volunteering to serve as a caregiver for a beloved elderly parent is very valuable. Instead, even if many inconveniences are expected, if it is possible as much as possible, helping the elderly family member to pass away at home will be the best caregiving. However, even if you send them to an elderly nursing facility, it may be a better way for elderly people who are uncomfortable living. If you are a child, you don't need to feel guilty at all.