Many seniors don’t require assistance and can maintain independence for many years. However, some older adults do struggle with physical and mental limitations that may hinder the ability to safely perform daily tasks like personal hygiene, grocery shopping and getting to doctor appointments. When these situations arise, family members become concerned and want to provide help for their loved ones but realize that many options are going to take away the sense of independence and freedom that their loved ones value.

8 reasons seniors should remain living in their own homes

But they still need help!
What exactly does “aging in place” mean? Simply said, it is living in your beloved home as long as possible. In-home care is designed to help people do exactly that.

What are seniors up against? According to a new Harvard study, it suggests “that two-thirds of Americans over age 65 need help doing one or more everyday activities such as eating, bathing, and getting in and out of bed or a chair.”

More and more seniors are relying on in-home assistance for support while focusing on aging in place. The incredible surge of medical devices, telehealth options, advancement in technology, and assistance provided by home care services has given older adults a new level of support that they desire. And the more that we understand how much assistance the over 65 population needs, more help can become available.

Remaining independent with home care services
As new research has provided information about how to help seniors enhance their quality of life, home care services have grown to provide assistance that supports senior needs. For example, home care providers understand how important independence is for senior well-being. Home care assistance provides a range of services that help seniors not only maintain independence but also enhance it. Here’s how:

• Mobility – Perhaps an aged adult has trouble getting to and from the grocery store, the doctor’s office, or church – in-home care assistance can provide transportation so that seniors can get to where they need to go.
• Loneliness/Companionship – Aging adults often feel depressed and isolated due to limited social activity. Since COVID-19, this has become an increasingly bigger concern for senior health care providers. Home care services offer companionship that seniors may not otherwise get to enjoy and benefit from.
• Grocery Shopping/Cooking – Home care providers are available for meal planning, prepping and cooking. Many seniors miss out on dietary needs that can enhance physical and mental health because of challenges with grocery shopping and cooking. Home care can help put dietary concerns at the forefront of daily living.
• Personal Hygiene – Seniors who suffer from severe physical health issues often feel very discouraged and depressed about the limited tasks they can perform to care for themselves. This might include bathing, dressing and even brushing their own teeth. Assistance with personal hygiene may not take away the depression that comes with losing physical capabilities, which is why home care providers are trained to help seniors feel more encouraged and motivated, cared for and valued.

Senior home care is absolutely the best option to help aging adults feel independent and free while still receiving the support that they need. The best thing about home care is that it is flexible to meet the needs of each individual depending on the type of help that they need and how often. It is the perfect personalized support for any senior.

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The Institute for Healthcare Communication’s June 2018 newsletter explains that “while strong communication skills are essential to forming relationships and building trust, they are especially vital to understanding and addressing social determinants of health that affect the most vulnerable populations that healthcare organizations serve.”

Empathic communication skills are essential. According to Life at Work, “Empathic communication is communication that takes into account what we do, the way we do it, and our impact on other people.”

With empathic communication, home care providers offer so much more than just daily support and assistance.

Build Trust with Clients
Home care providers must build a trusting relationship with their clients in order to meet their client’s needs, keep them happy with their home care and help them receive the support that they need. To build trust with a client, communication needs to be free of judgment and full of compassion and care. Understanding the challenges and feelings that the vulnerable population experiences can help create an environment of genuine empathy which allows communication to flow more easily.

Help Clients Open Up About Their Needs
When a client doesn’t trust the care providers around them, they are less likely to disclose information. Fear of judgment, anger, confusion and frustration will keep clients tight-lipped. Empathic communication will help clients feel heard, understood and cared for which will promote a safe environment and relationship for information to be shared.

Clear Communication
Communication plays more than just one role with care providers. Clear communication means being able to communicate under stress, negotiating, expressing your own needs while considering someone else’s needs, listening fully and practicing honesty without insulting anyone. Strong communication for care providers builds mutual respect and sets a standard that solidifies integrity and honesty.

Emotional Support
People who seek care providers need emotional support but are often afraid, ill and confused. The emotional stress that patients endure when transitioning to receiving care is high and care providers can use good communication skills to ease the stress, promote a safe and comfortable environment, and provide the emotional support that their clients need – even when those clients are guarded.

Communication is an essential skill when caring for a vulnerable individual. Without good communication, many important needs of a client may be missed, clients might discontinue services and ultimately not receive the support that they need. Taking the time to build on empathic communication skills can greatly improve a care provider’s success in providing the support that will truly benefit the clients.

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