Nine
out of 10 Americans say they want to grow old at home and keep living in their
communities as long as possible, according to AARP.
Eventually requiring some form
of care is just a fact of aging. But proper planning in advance can give you
more options if done right. For instance, would you rather be cared for at home
or in an institution?
If you would prefer to stay at
home, then you are in good company. According to the AARP, 9 in 10 Americans
say they want to grow old at home as long as possible. In-home care was the
subject of a recent article in The Wall
Street Journal titled “When to Consider In-Home Care.”
Not everyone can find the appropriate
in-home care, even while options are rapidly expanding. Depending upon the
community and your needs (or the needs of your elderly loved ones), there are
many creative ways to make your in-home care a reality.
For example, doctors and nurses
can make house calls, while personal care assistants can help with shopping,
cooking, cleaning, etc. As needs increase, in-home care at the level of basic
assisted-living or nursing home care can be found, and often at far less
expense.
None of these options come
without consequences. As a result, it is worth understanding the attending
challenges. Living at home, after all, will limit socialization. More to the
point, if care is given directly by a family member, then there is the toll on
their life and health, too.
After you read the original
article, spend some time looking into your own community. You might just find
that your best option is more readily available than you thought.
When it is all said and done,
you just might be able to stay at home that much longer.
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Reference: The Wall Street
Journal (September 15, 2013) “When to Consider In-Home Care”