Home Care Versus Nursing Home—Why This Choice May Not Be as Clear-Cut as You Think

With so many Americans living longer, their adult children struggle with the reality of their aging, and the fact that they may not be independent for the remainder of their lives. Home health care services Seal Beach recognises the importance of offering more for elders living at home.

We often see these situations swing in two polar opposite directions: either the children ignore the situation until parent is hurt or incapacitated, or the children overreact to the first challenge and believe nursing homes are the only option. At BlueSea Care, we understand these emotional reactions, as no one, however experienced, is prepared for the reality of their parents’ decline. We believe that, when making decisions regarding seniors’ living situations and care, we often need to step back, take a breath, and think creatively about possible solutions.

Keeping Seniors at Home—Is These a Compromise?

Most seniors, when asked, express the desire to remain in their homes for as long as possible, leading to home health care services Seal Beach. Inevitably, some seniors will require monitored care, like a nursing home. However, others who still retain some level of independence may just need their homes retooled to better serve their changing needs. Before we jump to knee-jerk reactions to a parent’s daily struggles, we should look at their environment for areas of improvement. Here are some ideas that could help your loved one function better at home:

Bathroom safety

Since most accidents occur in bathrooms, this needs to be a key area of focus. Install safety bars and non-slip prevention in tubs. Many companies also offer walk-in tubs to further safeguard against falls.

Rethink stairs

Multilevel homes present the most challenges, as seniors feel like they lose half their homes when stair safety becomes an issue. Stair lifts allow them to navigate stairs safely and easily, and give them peace of mind.

Reorganize for functionality

Sometimes, safety comes from simply moving things around. Remove often used items from high shelves, and rework areas so that items are in easy reach. Likewise, remove tripping hazards like rugs.

Install a monitoring service

These services give both you and your parent the comfort of knowing that help is just at the touch of a button. They can summon emergency assistance in case of falls, or other medical emergencies.

As your family approaches a care plan for your aging parent, you should take the time to examine both the ability level of your loved one and their home environment. This is a start to providing support or looking at home health care services Seal Beach. What may seem like a decline could really just be a home environment in need to retooling. When you think creatively about how to adjust a space, you may be able to preserve your parent’s independence as long as possible.