Caring For Your Aging Loved One: Options For Caregivers

If you are like the one in six Americans that have an aging loved one that you are the primary caregiver for, no matter how much you love them, it can be overwhelming at times. Whether they live in your home or you take care of them in their home, when you become a caregiver for someone else, your roles must be adjusted and self-care often suffers. What is important for both you and the loved one that you care for is to know that you are 1. not alone, and 2. you have options.

You are not alone.

In the United States, more than 34.2 million people over the age of 50 are cared for or live with their grown children or another family member who provides daily care for them. 49 percent of American caregivers feel that they have no choice in taking on the role of caregiver, whether by obligation or a lack of alternative support. Additionally, nearly 70 percent of adult caregivers also work outside the home at least part-time and 64 percent end up adjusting their work schedule or leaving their jobs to care for their loved ones. This creates a significant amount of stress and impacts the household income.

You have options.

At Angels on Call Homecare, we understand that you care for your aging loved one and it may be difficult to reach out for help. We also understand that many aging adults who require daily assistance would rather live at home or with a loved one than in an assisted living facility or a nursing home. Here are just a few of the options we provide for helping to lift some of the responsibility from you so that you can work and take care of your growing family while also caring for your aging loved one.

Full-time, live-in care.

Depending on how much assistance your loved one needs with activities of daily living (ADLs) — dressing, bathing, dressing, toileting, eating — and mobility, one option is full-time live-in companion care. A live-in home health aide offers round-the-clock care and assistance with a multitude of things including personal hygiene, safety, cooking, and light cleaning. This can offer peace of mind for you and your loved one, knowing they have someone to watch over them when they need it.

Part-time companion care.

If caring for your loved one works well with your family lifestyle, but you are concerned about them while you are working outside the home, you can opt for part-time companion care. Whether you want a home health aide to help your loved one for a few hours to assist with ADLs and provide some companionship while you’re away, or you want someone to stay with your loved one the entire work day, Angels on Call Homecare provides home health aides and in-home companions to help whenever you need it!

Respite care.

If you don’t work outside the home and are able to care for your aging loved one full-time, it is always best, for both you and your loved one, for you to practice good self-care. This means that sometimes you need to take a break to get much needed you time or to spend quality time with your friends, spouse, and children. That is why we offer respite care, which is kind of like adult-sitting. We can provide a caregiver for a few hours or an entire weekend. Respite care is flexible and can be used every week or once a year, whatever suits your needs.

Support.

Maybe you don’t need someone to stay with your loved one, but you could use some assistance handling all the chores and duties taking care of them and your family. Angels on Call also offers auxiliary support services including transportation assistance, housekeeping, nutrition services, physical therapy, medication administration, in-home nursing care, and wound care. Whatever support you need, we can provide, on your schedule.

You and your loved one are never alone or without options when it comes to getting the care they need. If you are the caregiver for an aging loved one, contact us for more information about how we can help. Angels on Call Homecare provides quality in-home care all over New York. Contact us to get the help you need today!