Many older adults prefer to live in their own homes for as long as possible rather than moving in with relatives or relocating to a senior living community. However, as they age, they may start experiencing difficulties with everyday activities such as shopping, cooking, housekeeping, and personal care.
Family members often hear concerns like:
“I don’t feel like cooking a full meal for myself anymore.”
“I’ve been sleeping on the couch because it’s hard to get upstairs.”
“Doing the laundry wears me out a lot more than it used to.”
“I don’t feel very comfortable driving to the grocery store anymore.”
While family and friends may step in to help with these tasks, providing ongoing support can become overwhelming. Thankfully, there are many in-home services available to assist seniors, helping to reduce caregiver burden, extend independence, improve safety, and support successful aging in place.
Help for Seniors Living at Home
For seniors who need assistance but wish to age in place, home care professionals offer valuable solutions. Aging in place means living in one's own home for as long as possible, even if external help is needed.
There are various types of assistance available for seniors living alone. Here are some common needs and the services that can address them:
Housekeeping
Maintaining a clean and organized home can become challenging for seniors. Hiring household help can relieve this burden. House cleaning services can be arranged weekly, biweekly, or monthly, providing essential support without overwhelming the senior.
Home Care Aides: Provide light housekeeping to ensure a safe and clean environment, but do not handle heavy-duty tasks like window washing or carpet cleaning.
Running Errands, Shopping Assistance, and Transportation
Modern conveniences like delivery services and curbside pickup have made shopping easier for everyone, including seniors. Many local stores offer same-day delivery or express pick-up, making it unnecessary for seniors to leave home.
Home Care Agencies: Provide companion services, including transportation to appointments and stores, and can even assist with shopping and taking notes at medical appointments.
Meal Preparation
Proper nutrition is vital for seniors' health. While frozen dinners and meal replacement shakes can be convenient, they are not ideal for long-term nutrition.
Meals on Wheels: Delivers healthy meals to seniors who have limited mobility and struggle with meal preparation.
Home Care Aides: Can plan, shop for, and cook meals, ensuring seniors receive nutritious home-cooked food. They can also prepare large batches of meals to be frozen and reheated later.
Money Management
Managing finances can be a challenge for seniors, leading to potential issues like unpaid bills or excessive spending. It's crucial to ensure they can handle their finances or have help if needed.
Financial Advisors and Geriatric Care Managers: Can assist seniors in managing their money effectively.
Daily Money Managers: Offer practical help with budgeting and bill-paying.
Medication Management
Many seniors take multiple medications, which can be confusing and lead to mistakes.
Home Care Workers: Provide daily medication reminders and ensure the correct dosages are taken.
Nurses: In some cases, Medicare covers visits from nurses to administer medications if intermittent skilled nursing care is required.
Mobility Services
Limited mobility can make moving around difficult and dangerous for seniors. Professional caregivers can offer supervision and assistance with mobility, reducing the risk of falls.
Home Care Aides: Help with transfers and mobility exercises, encouraging safe and active living.
Personal Care and Hygiene Services
Declining physical and mental health can make personal hygiene tasks difficult for seniors. Receiving help from a professional can maintain their dignity and health.
Bath Aides: Provide assistance with bathing and grooming, ensuring seniors maintain good hygiene.
Personal Care Aides: Assist with dressing, toileting, and incontinence care, and some salons offer in-home services for haircuts and nail care.
How to Hire In-Home Help for Seniors
Start by discussing your loved one’s needs and consulting with other members of their care team. Determine which tasks they struggle with and which services could be beneficial.
Gather Information: Research providers in the area and seek referrals from family, friends, and local resources like the Area Agency on Aging.
Evaluate Costs: Consider the costs of services and explore options covered by insurance or provided at reduced rates based on income.
Hiring in-home help can significantly improve the quality of life for seniors, allowing them to age in place comfortably and safely.
For information about how AmoryCare can help at home please contact us:
Phone: 908-854-3220
Fax: 908-854-3221
Email: info@amorycare.com
Service Areas:
Union County, NJ: Berkeley Heights, Summit, Linden, Scotch Plains, Westfield, Murray Hill, Plainfield, Mountainside, Garwood, Clark, New Providence, Elizabeth, Roselle Park, Winfield, Kenilworth, Vauxhall, Cranford, Springfield, Union, Fanwood.
Morris County, NJ: Bernardsville, Boonton, Brookside, Budd Lake, Butler, Califon, Cedar Knolls, Chatham, Chester, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Far Hills, Flanders, Florham Park, Gillette, Greenvillage, Hibernia, Ironia, Kenvil, Lake Hopatcong, Landing, Ledgewood, Lincoln Park, Long Valley, Madison, Mendham, Millington, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mt. Arlington, Mt. Freedom, Mt. Tabor, Mountain Lakes, Netcong, New Vernon, Newfoundland, Oak Ridge, Parsippany, Pequannock, Picatinny Arsenal, Pine Brook, Pompton Plains, Port Murray, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Schooley’s Mountain, Stirling, Succasunna, Towaco, Wharton, Whippany.
Essex County, NJ: Livingston, Roseland, Essex Fells, West Orange, South Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, Montclair, Verona, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, West Caldwell, Fairfield, Irvington, Newark, East Orange.
Bergen County, NJ: Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fairview, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Rock, Hackensack (county seat), Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Little Ferry, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, Moonachie, New Milford, North Arlington, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Rutherford, Saddle Brook, Saddle River, South Hackensack, Teaneck, Tenafly, Teterboro, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Wallington, Washington Township, Westwood, Wood-Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, and Wyckoff.
Passaic County, NJ: Bloomingdale, Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Prospect Park, Ringwood, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne, West Milford, Woodland Park.
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