3 Benefits of Using In-Home Care

There are many different reasons why you might want to get in-home care for you or a loved one. These services make certain that those who are disabled, ill, or elderly receive the personal health care they deserve without leaving their home, which is, the largest benefit of in-home care. There are a number of other benefits of using in-home care as well.

Home care extends and improves quality of life.

Elderly man sitting on benchHome care postpones institutionalization and prevents premature decline. By encouraging independence and self-directed care, home care keeps aging parents in charge of their own lives for as long as possible. Unlike other forms of health care, older adults heal faster at home. Home care helps extend life by eliminating stressors associated with aging. Home care also enriches the quality of our loved one’s later years. Those receiving home care tend to report high rates of satisfaction with the services they receive and life overall.

It Provides Independence

In-home care allows the elderly or those who may not be able to live on their own without help the option of staying in the home they’ve lived in for years. This allows them to remain independent while providing loved ones with the knowledge that someone regularly checks in and provides assistance when they can’t.

It Takes the Stress off Family

Family members often find themselves becoming caretakers to those in need, but this can put a large amount of extra stress on them, especially if they’re also working full time and have a family. The stress can manifest in several ways, including illness or anger aimed at the person needing care. In-home care reduces this stress, allowing family and friends to visit and be with their loved one without the additional strain of needing to act as caregiver.

Other Benefits

In addition to these three benefits, there are many other reasons why in-home care may be the best option for you. You can visit our in-home care page to learn more about these services and what we offer.

Choose to Age Well with These 6 Healthy Living Tips

The beginning of the year is an excellent time to develop and recommit to goals that will help you better yourself. This year, focus your resolutions on healthy aging habits and aging well. With the help of your home health care assistant, see how you can lead a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle while being at your healthiest and happiest self.

Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
Regular physical exercise will help you maintain muscle mass and flexibility, and staying physically fit throughout your adult life will help decrease the chance that you will develop chronic health conditions. Get into a regular routine of exercising and staying fit, and engage in a lifelong sport that you enjoy like golf, dancing, cycling, or jogging.

Exercise Your Brain
The more you challenge your brain, the better it performs. Staying mentally active is just as important as staying physically fit. Challenge yourself to learn something new every day, learn a new language, join a discussion group, regularly participate in puzzles and mind teasers to exercise your brain.

Watch What You Put in Your Body
Many experts agree that most of your health is related to what you put into your body. Engage in a healthy diet. A good rule of thumb to follow is to eat a rainbow. More specifically, choose nutrient-rich foods like brightly colored fruits and vegetables that will add some variety to your diet. Seek out heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and limit your red meat and whole-fat dairy product intake. Choose whole grains over processed and refined grains. Choose bone-healthy calcium and Vitamin D options. To develop a more personalized diet, consult your healthcare professional.

Watch Your Stress Levels
The most common symptoms of aging—wrinkles, loss of energy, high blood pressure, heart disease, adrenal failure, loss of sex drives, poor memory—are really symptoms of stress and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Limit stress-inducing habits and eliminate smoking and limit our junk-food and drinking intake. Cut out negative and abusive relationships. Free yourself of regrets and emotional demons. And find a healthy and meaningful way to cope with stress.

Foster Relationships You Enjoy

Social isolation is a major indicator of unhappiness and depression. Engaging in healthy, active, and meaningful relationships. Remember the importance of cultivating and maintaining relationships and staying socially active as it has been linked to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Be Responsible About Screenings
Physicals and wellness exams are important as you age, but getting specific screenings for heart disease, cancer, and heart diseases, as well as vaccines for pneumonia, shingles, and the flu—which kills thousands of older adults every year—is essential to your health. A simple screening can catch a disease in its earliest stages.

For more information on healthy aging, read 50 Tips for Aging Gracefully from Ecumen.