Live-in aides provide a valued service to senior citizens, Disabled persons, and people with limited mobility. The definition of live-in aide is someone who live-in with one or more vulnerable adults, disabled people, or other vulnerable persons, and who:
” vicariously” – someone who acts in a capacity that contributes to the care of another; someone who shares the duties and responsibilities of another for the benefit of that other. An example might be a maid who works at a nursing home and takes care of the elderly, but not the patient. She would be considered a live-in aid, because she provides a companion to a senior citizen, but not a direct physical support. A live-in aid might also provide companionship for a patient in a mental health hospital, but not the direct care of that patient.
The services that live-in aides provide range from personal care, to running companion care services, to assisting with small tasks such as cooking or cleaning. Most senior citizens find it difficult to move around, often have limited mobility, and may need assistance with basic tasks. Living alone can be extremely challenging. The services provided by a live-in aide offer senior citizens a chance to live independently, to engage in activities that they may have previously considered too tedious to do, such as gardening or taking care of small children. Senior citizens may need help doing simple tasks, such as getting up from a chair, which can sometimes be impossible for them due to their diminished mobility.
In the case of an elderly senior suffering from dementia, there are many services that live-in aids can provide. These services can help the senior live in his or her own home, by enabling the senior to move around the house on their own, to cook, bathe, or take a shower if appropriate. This will prevent the senior from having to be admitted into a nursing home or long-term care facility. When an elderly senior is able to maintain consistent relationships with their own personal caretakers, they tend to retain their independent lifestyle longer. It can be difficult for them to adjust to the routine of having to wear a caregiver’s uniform. A live-in aide can help by accompanying the senior throughout his or her day, whether that be walking the dog, shopping for groceries, visiting with family members, or just taking a walk.
companion care can also be beneficial to elderly homeowners who are looking to hire a live-in aide. In this situation, a live-in aide will come into the home to provide household assistance in the form of cooking, errands running, or general help around the house. This can help the homeowner retain some control over their day to day activities. For example, instead of having the care provider drive the senior to a doctor’s appointment or to grocery stores, the client can request that the live-in aide run a stopwatch on a certain amount of time in order to double check a chore. In turn, the live-in aide would then tell the senior what he or she was doing incorrectly, with the client relaying this information back to the caring senior.
Additionally, companion care services can benefit the senior care agencies in providing seniors with companionship services in their homes or apartments. Elderly individuals are often lonely and neglected when they live alone. However, if a caring live-in aid is available to spend their days at the senior’s side, the senior may begin to feel more independent. Companion care agencies can also increase the number of people visiting a senior at their home, thereby increasing the chances that the senior will remain independent and capable of caring for themselves.
Senior home care agencies offer a variety of services to those seniors that need them. In addition to providing supervision, they also provide personal care by providing massages, manicures, pedicures, and acupuncture. Depending on the agency, they may even provide spa treatments and/or massages on demand. If the agency chooses, they may also work with dentists to provide teeth cleaning and gum disease screening. Furthermore, some senior home care agencies offer meal planning services and grocery shopping for their clients. These services are provided in an effort to decrease the costs that are incurred by seniors who live alone.
With all the options that senior care agencies offer to those seniors that need assistance, it is easy to see why so many seniors choose assisted living over staying in a private home. The agencies can provide a caring environment, along with the support needed to make a senior feel comfortable and independent. Also, assisted living provides seniors with an opportunity to still maintain their independence while receiving the care that they need. While there are many senior care options out there, assisted living is often considered the best option for seniors looking to maintain their independence and feel as though they are still in control of their lives.