As parents and loved one's age, they may need extra help that can be difficult to provide as a caring friend or family member. Managing everything from managing nutrition to taking care of simple tasks around the home can be a challenging problem to solve.
But it doesn't need to be.
While nursing homes are an option for many, the cost can be prohibitive, and the separation from home can be difficult. Thus, in-home elder care has many benefits, and it can help someone not only manage this phase of their life but thrive. It's flexible, personalized, and holistic.
What Is Holistic Elder Care?
Treating the Whole Person
The word holistic means a lot of different things to different people. Still, one report published in the Indian Journal of Palliative Medicine provides a useful definition: approaches and interventions meant to satisfy a patient's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. Holistic care is designed to help people get beyond "survival mode" and live with the best mental, emotional, and physical health possible.
Personalized Caregiving
Holistic care is best delivered personalized and adjusted to the individual. It cannot be one size fits all. To thrive on a holistic level means that individual needs must be considered and responded to accordingly.
Flexible Care at Home
Unfortunately, many nursing home environments do not provide enough of a personalized, nurturing home for people to retire. As the CDC explains, it can be hard for elders to follow through with keeping a healthy, diverse diet. If mealtimes are always at a time or certain rules are set that disagree with the person's personality, it can tax that individual.
The Holistic Benefits of In-Home Care with a Professional Caregiver
In-home elder care has many benefits over residential care in a nursing home. An in-home caregiver can provide a holistic, nurturing environment for your loved one. Compassionate, comprehensive care can make a huge difference in your loved one's life. Here are some of the benefits from a holistic perspective:
Personalized, Tailored Care That Can Adjust as Needed
In-home care is holistic and tailored to the individual and adjustable as needed. Many elders start off needing some light help around the home. If conditions worsen, home healthcare with a professional caregiver can be adjusted to help you manage the condition.
Personalized diets are much easier to handle at home than in a group residential environment where standard three-times-a-day meals are provided.
Comfort and Dignity in a Familiar Environment
Most people are happier staying at home than moving into a small room in a crowded nursing home. Being at home provides someone with a greater feeling of dignity, independence, and contentment. And a positive mindset can have tremendously positive impacts on health. Nursing homes can be noisy and chaotic, with the sounds of nurses assisting others and medical machines beeping to interrupt needed peace and quiet.
Reduced Risk of Transmittable Illnesses
Nursing homes were hit extremely hard during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive study into the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes stated, "Nursing home residents very often require care and support that is of intimate nature, which makes them vulnerable to contracting easily spreadable infections such as COVID-19."
In many nursing homes, one or two caregivers may be responsible for multiple residents in a confined environment, making transmitting viruses such as covid or the flu much more likely. When COVID-19 hit, many nursing home facilities were woefully underprepared and up to one in five were deficient in necessary PPE (personal protective equipment) supplies.
Companionship and Caring
A compassionate in-home caregiver provides much-needed companionship and caring to someone who might otherwise feel alone. Research finds that companionship has many positive and proven health benefits, including a lowered risk of dementia, improved health, reduced blood pressure, less depression, and more.
Holistic Elder Care with a Qualified In-Home Caregiver
In-home care is the way to go if you are looking for a truly holistic way to care for your elder loved ones. Homewatch CareGivers helps families in the Chicago area with high-quality in-home care with caregivers who value the human connection. Our caregivers are more than just helping professionals; they can become friends with the elders in their care. We are committed to helping seniors live their years in dignity and joy.
Are you interested in personalized, connected care from a qualified caregiver? View all our in-home services.
