Elderly Parents Need 24 Hour Care

What to do When Elderly Parents Need 24 Hour Care

What is meant by 24-hour care?

Seniors and their families who do not want to move a loved one into an assisted living facility can use 24-hour care for seniors. People often do not know the difference between 24-hour in-home and live-in care when they want to hire a 24-hour caregiver. In-home care gives older people hands-on help with their daily tasks. In-home care is when a professional caregiver comes to a senior’s home to help their family take care of them. 

Families who only need help a few hours or days a week sometimes need less help than expected. But as people get older, they may need more care and have more needs. Unfortunately, not everyone who takes care of an older person who depends on them can give them the care they need, let alone 24 hours a day. With 24-hour home health care for the elderly, a loved one does not have to leave their home to get help from a caregiver. 

One of the benefits of 24-hour care is that caregivers are always coming and going, so the patient is never left alone. In addition, a 2-3 person rotation ensures that a caregiver is always awake and ready to take care of the patient. 

Also, short-term or long-term care at home that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, can be helpful.

What does 24-hour care for elderly parents include?

Home care services can help with a variety of needs. Starting with personal care, staff can help helps with things like bathing, eating, dressing, and going to the bathroom. The service often includes emotional care aiming for caregivers to build a special trust with your parent. Through meaningful activities, stimulating conversation, and general companionship, seniors feel confident in their care. 

If your loved one is having trouble with everyday tasks, 24-hour care can help with cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and more. Additionally, skilled nursing care meets a parent’s health and medication needs. Your loved one will always have someone trained and awake to care for and watch over them. Rotations ensure that caregivers have time to rest and prepare for different situations.

Is it expensive to give 24-hour care to elderly parents?

Depending on the type of care, most people may not be able to follow a doctor’s advice because of the cost unless family members are taking care of them. In 2022, the average cost of a caregiver in the home will be between $40 and $50 per hour but varies greatly by company and state. Nursing homes and other places for older people can cost a lot more. A 24/7 live-in caregiver can save you money by making sure you get reliable, affordable care at home.

If parents do not have long-term care insurance or a lot of money, they may have to use Medicaid or spend down their assets to qualify for help if they need care 24 hours a day. Medicare helps pay for short-term care in a nursing home, and Medicaid pays for long-term care. 

Parents who need care 24 hours a day face very different situations in each family. If an elderly parent has dementia, Alzheimer’s, or another cognitive problem that makes living alone unsafe, then they may need permanent 24-hour care. Depend on what caused the need for care, whether or not the person can get better, and what the short-term and long-term health outlook can change the outcome. 

Also Read: Can My Elderly Parent Live Alone?

Is it my responsibility to take care of my parents when they need 24-hour care?

You might be the oldest child and think it’s your job to take care of your aging parents. However, you may not have the ability to do so. Unfortunately, not everyone in your family feels the same about caring for your parents when they are old (Also Read: Trapped Caring for Elderly Parent). There may be some sibling rivalry going on, but now is not the time to fight. You do not want your parents to feel like they have been left by the grown children they raised, but time and money are running out.

Many adult children do not live near their parents, so it’s not always possible for them to help take care of them. However, some children of parents who are getting older do take care of their parents on their own. Everyone has a different relationship with their parents, though. You might not be able to care for them because money is tight, so the answer is not always clear. 

In the U.S., it’s up to each state to decide if children have to take care of their elderly parents. Some states require that children who can afford to do so help their parents who are poor or pay for their health care needs. In other states, the children of older adults do not have to do anything. At the moment, 27 states have laws about “filial responsibility.”

Are 24-hour care recommendations really necessary?

Healthcare professionals often suggest 24-hour care, even if they do not know how much it would cost to pay privately. It’s always best to get your doctors’ recommendations as they often know the full list of options and which would be the most appropriate for your elderly parent. Ultimately you and your family have the final say.

What are the benefits of 24/7 care?

Things like poor eyesight, trouble moving around, memory loss, and getting sicker can make life hard for older people. Simple tasks you do every day can become hard and frustrating. However, 24-hour care can help with all of these needs, such as personal care, safety, health needs, and eating. 

When taking care of an elderly loved one, many family caregivers can become too busy and could use a break. A caregiver who works 24 hours a day can give families a short break by helping with household tasks. Families can rest easy knowing that their loved one is being cared for by a kind and skilled professional. Sometimes, the caregivers can help with tasks around the house that are too much for your parents to handle, including light cleaning. 

Furthermore, professional caregivers can help get seniors to and from doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, and other activities outside the home. There may not always be family members around to help with these daily trips. A 24-hour home care aide can make sure your loved one gets home safely by setting up transportation for them. 

In-home care allows clients to receive care at home. Research shows that patients recover from sickness and surgery faster at home. They have fewer infections and hospital readmissions. Your aging parent will receive one-on-one care. Your parent’s requirements will be met faster at home. Seniors who are reluctant to leave their homes and lose their independence may prefer in-home care (Also Read: Elderly Parent Refuses Assisted Living).  

What options are there for 24-hour care for elderly parents?

There are many care options for aging parents who need help with daily duties. In-home care is preferable for aging parents if you want to keep your folks out of nursing homes and other places. These services can also provide companions, care management, meal preparation, transportation, medicine reminders, bill paying, personal cleanliness, and exercise. 

Another option allows seniors to live independently in assisted living settings and get personal care as needed. These facilities generally provide medication, bathing, and dressing. Nursing homes offer medical and personal care. Nurses and other medical workers work 24/7. This is a 24-hour care option for elderly parents. 

Elderly people often live with their family. This provides daily support and non-skilled health care. They can also enjoy family company. In-home care for an aging relative can be quite helpful. Hire in-home help if you are caring for aging parents while working full-time and raising kids. 

If your senior is able, it is a great idea to include them in the decision about 24/7 care. Since it is their life, they should be able to say something about their care. You can share your thoughts and worries, but make sure your loved one is involved. If you can, teach them about the different options and challenges. Call Stellar Care today to find out what options are available for your elderly parents who need around-the-clock care.

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