Personal Care Services: Enhancing Well-Being and Quality of Life

Personal Care Services: Enhancing Well-Being and Quality of Life

Aging is a part of life for everyone, but how we experience these later years is far from universal. Many people imagine this process happening in a retirement community or a nursing home. For some, this is an amazing option that fulfills their personal and medical needs.

However, it isn’t the only choice available to older adults. Personal care services near you are available to deliver high-quality, customized care from the comfort of your own home. 

In this article, we’ll explore how in-home personal care services are beneficial for seniors who wish to remain independent. Read more to find out why this option may be the right fit for you or your loved ones.

What Does Personal Care Assistance Research Show?

A literature review done by various academic and medical professionals from Sage Journal found that home health care services helped:

• Increase medication adherence
• Make care recipients feel more satisfaction out of life
• Improve their health-related quality of life 
• Save money on health care expenses
• Assist with care management for those with chronic illness

This healthcare option has many clear benefits for seniors who wish to remain at home.

Why Choose Private Home Care Near You?

The decision to choose at-home care versus a care home is a deeply personal one that depends on your unique needs. However, we’d be happy to explore reasons why some people prefer at-home care over a long-term care home:

• Pets: Few care homes allow pets, so many older adults wish to remain at home if they have pets.
• Decor: Not every care home lets you customize your space. Moving to a care home could mean leaving behind beloved decorative pieces or furniture items.
• Property Ownership: Most care homes are rental properties, and some seniors aren’t interested in transitioning from home ownership to renting.

Exploring the Advantages of Personal Care Services

Let’s explore the many ways in-home personal care assistance is a great fit for people:

Individualized Care

This kind of care is hyper-specific to the person requesting it. With in-home care, a care professional is matched up to one person or couple. This level of individuality allows for everything in the care plan to be customized to the recipient. 

In other care settings, the number of people assigned to a single care professional increases the overall responsibility of the professional, compromising the attention and type of care they can offer.

Reduced Stress

While change can be for the better, it’s stressful, especially when it is about the place you call home. Depending on a person’s reason for seeking care, adding the stress of a move can exacerbate any health issues they are struggling with.

Home health care still requires a slight change, but it’s one that’s much easier to adjust to since it takes place in a familiar environment. This reduction in stress and increase in support prioritizes the well-being of the individual in the best way possible.

Greater Social Connection

Most older adults have lived in their neighbourhood for quite some time. They’ve put down roots and made strong connections with the people and areas around them.

Personal care services mean you don’t have to say goodbye to a community that you know and love. You get to remain in your beloved neighbourhood and receive support from the people around you, while also gaining the professional support you need.

Reduced Infection Risk

A house is much easier to keep infection-free than almost any other kind of assisted living arrangement, including personal care homes. If someone is immunocompromised and needs to stay away from infection risks, or if someone needs to avoid spreading an infection of their own, controlling who comes and goes is easier in a private residence.

What Personal Care Services Near You Can Offer

While offerings will differ from one agency to another, in general you can expect to see services such as:

• Meal preparation
• Medication management, pickup, and reminders
• Disability management services
• Toileting assistance
• Dementia care services
• Transportation for both medical and social appointments
• Light housekeeping
• Laundry services
• Respite care
• Transitions of care

With most in-home care providers, you can set up other custom options by contacting the agency’s care coordinator. The coordinator will tell you if your requirements fit in the scope of their care offerings and will work with you and your family to develop a custom care plan.

How Do I Know a Personal Care Assistance Agency is Worthwhile?

While you should always meet in-person to see how you get along with an agency, there are ways you can identify if agencies aren’t a good fit without having to leave home:

• Assess their website: Is it updated and easy to navigate, or does it look unprofessional?
• Read reviews: Google, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau are all good sources to learn about people’s experiences with an agency.
• Give them a call: If staff are impatient or rude, that could be an indicator of possible issues down the line.
• Research how long they’ve been in business: While this isn’t a sure indicator of quality service, it can be a good sign of their dedication and professionalism in building an established business.

Finding Friendly Professionals Who Are Always Eager to Help

Getting all the information you can is a great way to ensure you get the best care. Working with professionals with years of experience is another way. 

Whether you need standard personal care services or more complex offerings like dementia care, ComForCare has a solution that can help you.

Our compassionate and dedicated approach to in-home care for seniors has made us one of Canada’s leading providers in this industry. We pride ourselves on giving families and their loved ones custom care plans, tailored to their exact needs, from the comfort of their homes.

Contact us now to speak with one of our friendly, knowledgeable team members about which personal care assistance options would work best for you.