Finding the Balance Between Care and Independence with Home Care Assistance
April 4, 2024
It can be hard to make sure seniors are safe and healthy while also respecting their desire to be independent when caring for them. At the same time, not finding this balance can lead to feelings of guilt and anger on both sides. The good news is that loved ones can find a happy medium with the help of home care assistance, ensuring seniors can get the help they need while still maintaining their independence and respect.
Understanding Independence
Being independent means different things to different people. For seniors, being independent usually means being able to make decisions, handle daily tasks, and feel like they have control over their lives. But as problems related to getting older, like trouble moving around, memory loss, or long-term illnesses, occur, it can get harder for them to stay independent.
How Can Home Care Assistance Help?
Home care assistance tailors its care to each senior's needs, giving them support that helps them stay independent. Their assistance also gives loved ones and seniors a break from each other, allowing each to process feelings and recharge. In addition, home care assistance has the ability to personalize services to fit the needs and habits of seniors, whether they need help with housework, managing their medications, or just having someone to talk to. Their method of assessment also takes emotions out of the picture, which is key when frustrations are high.
Tips and Tricks for Finding Balance
Each situation is different, but the following tips might be helpful when trying to find the right balance with seniors aging in care.
- Communication: Being able to talk to each other freely is important for finding balance when caring for someone. Family members should be open and honest with their loved ones about their care needs, desires, and worries. This ensures that seniors will feel valued and involved in the decision-making process.
- Assessing Needs: As mentioned, home care assistance can offer an assessment to see what services seniors truly need. This provides a third-party opinion that keeps emotions at bay. A typical assessment will look at things like mental and physical health, social support, and safety issues. While some seniors might balk at this assessment, explaining the purpose and the goal of maintaining their independence can help.
- Giving Seniors More Power: The goal of both caregiving and home care assistance is to help seniors remain independent rather than dependent. Understanding this, it’s crucial for seniors to be involved in decision-making and have respect for their privacy when possible.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: The needs of seniors change over time, which means that loved ones and any home care assistance they get need to be flexible and adaptable as well. Loved ones should check in on seniors regularly to see how they’re doing and explore what changes need to be made in an open and honest way.
It’s essential for loved ones to work with seniors to maintain a good balance that allows them to stay as independent as possible. They can do this with the help of home care assistance, open communication, flexibility, and a proper assessment of their needs.
If you or your loved one is looking for Home Care Assistance in San Jose, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777
Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990