When a parent or loved one gets older, it can be challenging to care for themselves. Simple tasks like cooking and cleaning can be difficult, and if your loved one falls while performing daily tasks, it could result in a broken bone or head injury. If they can’t reach the phone, it could take a while before anyone finds them, leaving your loved one on the floor for hours.
If you’re worried about your loved one being alone, home care and assisted living are the best options. It’s essential to consider the benefits of each option.
Home Care
If your loved one doesn’t require constant care, hiring a home health aide is an excellent option. According to Statista, most people who require home care are over 65 years old, and 97 percent of people requiring assistance need help bathing, and 91 percent need help getting in and out of bed.
The good thing about home care is that your loved one can remain in their home and get the care they need. In addition, they will have someone to talk to during the day, preventing loneliness.
Assisted Living
Another option for your loved one is an assisted living community. Assisted living in Walnut Creek isn’t a nursing home and is more like a community for the elderly. If loved ones don’t mind leaving their home, there are several ways they can benefit from living in an assisted living community. According to Consumer Affairs, over 810,000 people live in assisted living today.
If you aren’t sure if assisted living is best for your loved one, consider the benefits.
Private units. An assisted living community differs from a nursing home because nursing home rooms are set like a hospital room, and your loved one may have a roommate. Your loved one will have their own small unit with a kitchen, sitting area, bedroom, and a bathroom in an assisted living community. If your loved one doesn’t need constant care, assisted living will allow them to feel independent in the privacy of their own beautifully decorated unit.
Laundry and housekeeping. Household chores can be dangerous if your loved one has trouble getting around. Fortunately, assisted living communities provide housekeeping and laundry services, and your loved one can spend more time enjoying their golden years and less time doing housework.
Restaurant-style dining. Assisted living communities have restaurant-style dining in a private dining room, so your loved one never has to eat alone. Most communities have different options to choose from, and your loved one won’t have to worry about cooking and eating alone…
New friends. Living in an assisted living community gives your loved one a chance to make new friends their age with whom they will have things in common. Having a circle of new friends living within walking distance will help your loved one feel connected to others, and they can enjoy the benefits of new friendships.
24/7 care. If your loved one has a medical emergency, you don’t have to worry. Assisted living communities in Walnut Creek, CA, have staff members on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can be sure your loved one will get care when they need it.
Activities. There are always activities in assisted living communities, and you won’t have to worry about your loved one getting bored. Residents can participate in arts and crafts, games, low-impact exercise classes, or check out a good book from the library. With so much to do during the day, your loved one can really enjoy their golden years.
Home care and assisted living are both excellent options for a loved one who struggles to live alone, and it’s up to them which type of care they would benefit from the most and will make them the happiest.