Senior living decisions can grow more complicated the older your spouse, parent, or grandparent gets. Deciding where they will live, what level of care they need, and the cost of the new residence are all important factors, as it dictates the lifestyle and freedom they will have at their new residence. These options differ by the level of care provided to help a senior with their daily activities, medical support and amenities they enjoy.
In Home Care Senior Services
Seniors tend to prefer living in a familiar setting and can be reluctant to change. The goal of in home senior services is to help your loved one remain in their home for as long as possible, instead of moving a facility. The cost to get in home senior services is $19 per hour on average, according to a MetLife Mature Market Institute analysis.
Senior services can help with daily activities such as dressing, bathing, feeding, or meal preparation. This can range from a few hours a day to live-in care. If you hire the in home care professional from an agency, you get someone who has experience, is pre-screened, and is bound by a contract. The downside is that agency professionals charge more for their services.
Home health aides offer healthcare senior services like taking blood pressure or offering medication reminders. Other healthcare senior services can be provided at home by trained professionals, such as occupational therapists, social workers, or home health nurses. Check with your insurance to see what kind of coverage is available, although you may have to cover some cost out of pocket.
Daycare Senior Services
A great way to keep your loved one socially plugged in, while you work during the day, is to drop them off at senior daycare. This will keep your loved one busy with activities and socialization during the day, while providing a much-needed break for you.
While some daycare programs are simple and operate more like a social club, others have a higher level of care for seniors that require more assistance. There are even some senior daycare programs for those with disorders such as early stage Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Exercise Senior Services
Healthcare experts agree that exercise under the right conditions can help protect seniors against heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other ailments.
In addition exercise senior services can:
- Make you more mentally alert
- Slow bone loss (osteoporosis)
- Reduce the risk of falls
- Increase flexibility
- Improve your sleep
- Improve the fitness of your heart and lungs