The Advantages Of Elder Care in Orlando, FL

Elderly Home Care – The Advantages
By:Bob Kohut

In many ways we are now experiencing a “perfect storm” which is making elderly home care the only viable choice for taking care of many our seniors.  With declining incomes coupled with rising expenses and a rapidly aging population, retirement communities and assisted living centers are being priced beyond the reach of many.

There are many ways to provide elderly home care – from retrofitting the home for safety to hiring professional in-home care givers.  As with many things in life there is both an upside and a downside to elderly home care.  Let’s first look at the major advantages:

1. Allows seniors to maintain their independence.
2. Fosters a sense of continuity of living.
3. Preserves social networks.

Independence
To many seniors nothing is more important than maintaining their independence.  They chafe at any suggestion they may need help taking care of themselves and adamantly refuse to consider any options other than staying where they are.  Proper elderly home care lets them hang on to that all important sense of independence.  They don’t want to be a bother to their children and living at home lets them feel better about themselves and their situation.

Continuity of Living
Familiarity with their surroundings – from the home itself to the neighborhood parks, stores, and other amenities – actually promotes better mental health and a general sense of well-being.  Adapting to a changed environment can be difficult at any stage in life and it is even more of a challenge for seniors.

In addition, there is evidence that allowing seniors to relive pleasant memories of their past is a healthy thing.  It is far easier for Mom or Dad or Grandma or Grandpa to engage in pleasant reveries of Christmases past in the rooms where the events actually took place.

Social Network
Many seniors remain engaged with their neighbors and participate in community activities long after their own children have fled the nest.  If your seniors love to sit on their front porch and engage in friendly conversation with the neighborhood children as they walk by, losing that sense of social belonging can be a stressful event.