When it comes to promoting independence in later life, few people (if any) associate this with calling in help, even if it is only for a few hours a week!
Indeed, home care has a view of being a slippery slope for many older people, and has the unfair view of being the first step towards a care home. This is not the case, for many people who use home care, they may never need more than a couple of hours of help per week.
So, if you or a loved one are starting to engage in-home care, how can it help you retain your independence? Read on to find out!
- Encouraging and Helping with Self Care
This is one area that can get many older people on edge; surely, if they can’t engage in self-care, then they can’t stay at home, can they? Well, yes, they can! Self-care is one of the many areas that Home Care can help with, and the staff can help you or your family member with everything from washing to cooking to other basic household chores. So, if you need a bit of help with cooking meals or need help with washing your hair, this is what home carers can offer you!
- Promoting Socialisation
If you get home help or care, does that mean you are trapped in the home? Again, this is another inaccurate image that needs to be done away with!
Home care-based groups know that socialisation is vital for improved cognitive and mental health in later years. So, carers that come to the home will be willing and able to take you or your loved ones out to appointments, as well as provide you with information (and sometimes transport) to groups in the local community.
- Helping with Hobbies
Much like socialising, hobbies are a core part of keeping someone’s mind going later in life. Of course, if you were once someone who built birdhouses or engaged in gardening, this can get a bit difficult later in life. Does that mean you have to give these hobbies up? Absolutely not! Your carer will be able to help you engage with hobbies both in the home and in the community, which will help to keep you engaged and enjoying the things you love.
- Enabling Privacy
It is no secret that a person who is older and needs help with bathing, dressing and other grooming may feel embarrassed. Of course, a healthcare team will not divulge such information to anyone outside of the care setting and will always make sure that those whom they care for are treated with dignity
- Providing Options
The key to all of the ways that carers in the home help someone to stay independent is by offering options. This means that if you or your loved one have three visits from a carer a week, the control of what happens and when is in your court. However, the role of the carer is to provide as many options as possible, such as the timing of the visit, what happens during the visit and even if a visit is needed that week.
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