7 Types Of Home Care Services For Older Loved Ones

It can be extremely rewarding to help your loved one age in place in their own home. This type of living arrangement also gives you, as a caregiver, a chance to support them in ways you might not have considered before. As we get older, we often need help with things we could once do on our own. In other cases, we may just want the freedom to enjoy life without worrying about some of life’s day-to-day activities, like cleaning the house, cooking, or folding laundry. 

Knowing what your loved one needs or wants support with will help you understand what home care services are best for them. This article will explore seven of the many examples of services for seniors at home that can benefit your family. 

How Do I Understand What My Loved One Needs?

Your loved one’s needs will be unique, so it’s important to spend time with them to understand their goals. Ask questions like: 

• What activities do you want to continue doing independently? 

• What types of support could help you feel more rested, get more enjoyment out of life, or simply reduce hassle? 

• What types of in-home services are you most comfortable having someone else handle?

What Types of Home Care Services Are Available?

1. Budgeting

As your loved one gets older, keeping track of bills, debt, and payments can become difficult. As a caregiver, you can work with your loved one to navigate a smooth transition to oversight of their money. This might include learning more about an existing trusted adviser they had or hiring someone who specializes in money management. 

Doing this can help your loved one make sure bills get paid each month while they enjoy their lives. There are also many free personal finance resources, including professionals you can call and online personal finance classes from the university Extension system.

2. Cooking

If your loved one loves to cook, they may need minimal help in this area. Maybe they only need some help slicing and dicing ingredients or might want a meal or two handled by another person each week. 

On the other hand, if they don’t want to worry about cooking at all, there are in-home services where a trained professional will provide daily from-scratch meals or prep food in batches that are easy to reheat. Your loved one might also qualify for local food services through organizations like Meals on Wheels America, which help older adults access a loving community and nutritious meals.

3. Housekeeping and Home Repair

Your loved one can get help with all kinds of work around the house. This can include washing and folding laundry, cleaning the dishes, scrubbing floors, changing bedding, and more. Both in-home care providers and dedicated housekeeping services provide this type of support. 

You can research local contractors for more complex needs, like home repair, electrical installation, and renovations. A good trick is to contact local hardware stores near your loved one. They often have a list of contractors they trust to do the job right the first time.

4. Medication Managing

On average, older adults may take five or more medications a day, which can be a lot to keep track of. Extra support in this area can be beneficial to their health. You can explore in-home care services that specifically focus on medication management. 

In addition to keeping your loved one healthy and safe, this type of support can also provide practical advice or a written schedule to keep track of medicines. This can make it easier for you and your loved one to manage this important part of their health care as a team.

5. Personal Cleaning

Needing extra help with personal care and getting around the house as we age is pretty common. There are services that can help move loved ones around the bathroom, use the restroom, and assist with bathing and other personal care needs like teeth brushing and getting dressed. If your loved one experiences incontinence or other health conditions, a service provider can help them stay clean and dry.

6. Shopping

Some older adults can do their own shopping, but if your loved one prefers to stay home, whether by choice or because of their health, a trusted service provider can help. They can work with your loved one to make a shopping list and pick up goods at the store. Once they’re back at your loved one’s home, they can put things away where they belong.

7. Transporting

Whether your loved one has a doctor's appointment or regular social outings, some services will help get them to and from their destination. In addition to paid services, low-cost transportation programs are available in many communities. Accessibility is a top priority for these services, and you can work with your loved one to choose the right support based on their level of mobility.

Takeaways

Getting at-home care services for your loved one can help them age in place comfortably. You can use the list above as a starting point and do your research to find services that fit your loved one’s needs. You can also read some other helpful resources at Carewell below.