As our loved one’s age, the idea of sending them to an assisted living facility weighs on our mind. All kinds of questions begin to flood our ability to be in the present: Should I send mom/dad to an environment they are unfamiliar with? How will they adjust to a new lifestyle? Is staying aging in place an option?
While many questions will arise when considering the care of a loved one, the answer is simple: aging in place. Aging in place is when a person remains in their home as they age. With roughly 77% of retirees stating they prefer to remain at home for as long as possible, in-home care may be the bridge between your loved one receiving the right elder care and staying at home.
There are many reasons why seniors prefer home health care over relocating to an assisted living facility or nursing home, but here are the top three reasons seniors choose to age in place:
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Aging in place maintains one’s independence
The idea that your loved one will no longer be able to perform daily tasks on their own takes away from their personal happiness. Your relative doesn’t want to be a burden on the family by having to ask for help, so they resort to an assisted living facility. However, according to AARP, most seniors would rather maintain their daily routine on their own and operate on their own terms.
Maintaining an aging loved one’s independence is one of the greatest gifts you can give as this helps stabilize their health and well-being, as opposed to a living facility. An assisted living facility will remove their ability to cook for themselves, schedule visits with friends and family, and even bathe in the comfort of their own home – leading your loved one to feel dependent, powerless, and oftentimes, depressed. Home care services provide medical and non-medical solutions your senior needs to prevent destabilizing their lives and affecting their mental and emotional health.
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Reduces stress about having to relocate
Another major stress that comes with aging is the chance of having to leave everything you once knew behind in order to receive home care services. The idea of having to move to an unfamiliar environment, leaving sentimental valuables behind, and ultimately uprooting from a well-known community can be a source of anxiety for many seniors.
With many seniors flocking to popular retirement communities in Florida, such as Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, they do so for just that – the community. Being uprooted from their homes defeats the purpose of moving to these areas to enjoy their golden years.
Aging in place gives seniors allows them to live out their golden years the way they intended. Your loved one knows their neighborhood, its residents, and where to find the cinnamon in their cupboards. It’s these small things that make in-home care the best alternative for an aging relative, as opposed to assisted living. In-home care organizations may also offer treatment in their facilities, such as Mind and Mobility, with centers located in four major cities throughout South Florida. With Florida having one of the largest senior resident communities, aging in place becomes a more viable solution for our loved ones.
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In-home care is cheaper than assisted living
Another thing to consider when finding the right care for an aging loved one is cost. Moving a loved one into a nursing home or assisted care facility often means handing over all of their income to the organization providing the service. This isn’t the case when aging in place.
Remaining in one’s home while receiving home care services can prove to be more cost-effective when it comes to health care. If your aging loved one only needs help in the evenings when it’s time to bathe, cook, and perform other crucial tasks, an in-home care aid can help during those hours and in the convenience of your loved one’s home.
Aging in place is preferred by most American seniors. Growing old in one’s own home allows your loved one to be self-sufficient for longer, rids them of anxiety from moving somewhere new, and ultimately is less expensive than an assisted living residence. So whether they live down South in Miami, up North in West Palm Beach, or somewhere in between such as Ft. Lauderdale or Baca Raton, your loved one can find a team of support to help them age in place.
Interested in in-home healthcare and related services? Call Mind & Mobility Home Care & Therapy Centers at 1 (800) 650 – 5289, or visit our contact page to request a free consultation.