Hiring a Caregiver for In Home Care: Is your elderly family member having trouble with memory? Or are they finding it difficult to perform everyday tasks? Either way, your loved one has dementia.
This brain disorder affects millions of people every year. Presently, over 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia. In America, more than six million people are living with Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common type of dementia.
In 2021, the highest number of Alzheimer’s Disease-related mortality occurred in Ohio, with more than 4,947 deaths. This brain disorder also resulted in over 4,000 deaths in Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina. Reportedly, 4,025 people died due to dementia in Illinois.
While there is no way to cure dementia, providing quality care can improve the lives of people with dementia. In such situations, the best thing you can do is hire a 24-hour in-home caregiver. Read on to learn the benefits of hiring an in-home caregiver for patients with dementia.
#1 Personalized and One-to-One Care
Where nursing homes or assisted living facilities follow a one-size-fits solution. A 24-hour in-home caregiver provides personalized care to people living with dementia.
No two people experience dementia in the same way. People living with this brain disorder progress through the stages at different speeds. A 24-hour in-home caregiver understands that. As such, they tailor their approach such that it meets the individual care needs of seniors with dementia.
Take, for instance, your elderly family member who may have specific meal preferences. No one would take their meal preferences into account in a nursing home. That means they will have to eat whatever is cooked for the entire community, whether they like it or not.
But that isn’t the case with an in-home caregiver. An in-home caregiver takes into account the likes and dislikes of senior members with dementia and curates a meal plan accordingly.
#2 Improved Safety In Home Care
Multiple longitudinal studies have disclosed that people with this brain disorder have a two to eight-fold higher risk of falls than those with normal cognition. Don’t you think admitting your elderly family member to nursing homes will increase their risk of falls due to the lack of one-to-one attention?
Hiring a 24-hour in-home caregiver will be beneficial for patients with dementia. We say so because caregivers assist elderly members in every task, be it house cleaning, personal care, or accompanying on walks. With a skilled caregiver by their side 24/7, their risk of falls will be mitigated to a great extent. Also, certain requirements and certifications are needed in midwestern states like Illinois. So, it’s recommended to get a professional with a caregiver certification in Illinois and know they’ll provide the best care to patients.
Benefits of Hiring a 24-hour In-home Caregiver
Another benefit of hiring a 24-hour in-home caregiver is that it lessens the possibility of senior abuse, a frightening reality for many elders.
According to the World Health Organization, one in every six adults aged 60 and up suffered some type of abuse in community settings in 2021. The analysis further reveals that the incidences of elderly abuse are high in institutions such as long-term facilities and nursing homes.
Montana and Utah rank at the top when it comes to the states with the worst elder abuse protections.
While WalletHub ranks Illinois 20th, the city of Chicago has been under fire for all the wrong reasons. A recent CBS News article reveals that disabled Chicago residents were abused at the area development center.
Another article by ABC7 Chicago reports that a man at an East Chicago nursing home sexually abused a 96-year-old patient with dementia. The article further discloses that the family members of the 96-year-old lady filed a lawsuit against the nursing home.
Unexplained injuries, lacerations, injuries to the genitalia or the anus, skin ulcers, and bed sores are a few tell-tale signs of nursing home abuse, notes TorHoerman Law.
If you notice any of these signs on your loved one residing in a Chicago facility, get in touch with a Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer right away. From gathering evidence to helping your elderly member win fair compensation, they will be with you in each and every step.
All in all, the best way to prevent elderly abuse is to hire an in-home caregiver.
#3 Increased Independence
Contrary to what people believe, 24-hour in-home care doesn’t rob the care recipient of their independence. In fact, the recipient gains more independence, as they are able to perform a lot of tasks with their assistance.
For instance, if your loved one with dementia loves playing games or going for walks, a 24-hour caregiver will accompany them in these activities. That means your loved ones won’t have to wait for you to be free. So they can indulge in activities they enjoy.
A caregiver also encourages dementia patients to perform activities independently whenever they think it’s safe to let them do so. When a caregiver is present 24/7 to assist them with every activity, people with dementia feel safe and confident in their homes.
Wrapping Up (In Home Care)
From providing personalized care to seniors with dementia to increased independence, hiring a 24-hour in-home caregiver is highly beneficial.
Besides improving the quality of life of those with dementia, in-home caregivers offer respite for families. Be it work or family vacation, you can go anywhere without worries while your senior member will receive quality care without interruption.
Do not hire an amateur caregiver for your family member with dementia. Always reach out to a reputable home care agency, and they will provide you with a skilled and experienced caregiver.