Like the changing fashion or music trends, the home health care field experiences many changes that display the shift in values of every generation. Currently, studies show that most elderly individuals in the United States choose to spend most of their time at home, notwithstanding their cognition, mobility, and health.

Therefore, home health care agencies have stepped up this to challenge, offering more opportunities for assistance and care at home. Services range from meal preparation and light housekeeping to personal care and transportation. These home health care services offer many benefits to our elderly population, with the advantage in home health care including:

·Cost: Home health care services reduce the cost of care and the involved burden of the taxpayers and the patients.

· Safety benefits: the elderly population is at greater risk of falling due to reduced vision capacity, balance, mobility, and hearing. Home care assistance can help lower the chances of painful injuries and falls.

·Soothes the soul: home care services allow people to concentrate on the things that give them happiness while still receiving the care and help they require, including the comfort of their bed, the familiarity of their home, and all the memories made over the year.

With so many advantages of home health care, it would be beneficial to look into their services for your loved one.

Are you worried about a senior loved one and their ability to be safe in their own home? As adults age, they are met with more and more health problems. These health problems often require additional assistance with everyday tasks. You can move your loved one to a nursing home, but that requires them to pack up their belongings and leave their home. For this reason, many adult children are finding in home supportive services for their elderly parents in the form of elderly care at home. With so many companies offering assistance at home, how do you choose the one that offers the best caretakers and will take the best care of your beloved elderly parent?

Research your options Even if you have decided on an in home supportive services company, you have options. You have options on how often the caretakers will come, the specific services they will provide, and if they will be on call or not. Research all of your options. Find out what is standard in your city and communicate with multiple in home elder care companies.

Consider your senior?s medical needs Your senior parent?s needs matter when choosing an in home supportive services company. For example, the caretaker services of someone dealing with dementia or Alzheimer?s require specialized care. Alzheimer?s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. If your need for elder care in your parent?s home is for dementia reasons, you will want to be sure that the company you choose is knowledgeable in the dementia diseases.

Inquire about scheduling Providing their parents with a safe caretaker schedule is one of the hardest parts of caring for an elderly parent. According to Age Wave, most people vastly underestimate the likelihood they will need long term care. While 37% of people age 50 plus believe they may need long term care in the future, the reality is that twice as many eventually will (70%). This under planning of senior medical care is often left to be the burden of the adult child. This means that they are the one figuring out the in home supportive services caretaker schedule.

If you have a strict work schedule, or you have an all over the place schedule, you will want to pick a elder care at home company that can meet these scheduling needs. Some in home senior care companies have the ability to be on call. This may or may not be important to your needs. Either way, it is important to understand and inquire about scheduling needs before hiring an in home care company.

Find out about increased needs Usually when you hire an in home supportive services company, you will specify the exact tasks that your loved one needs help with. However, you will also want to inquire about the possibility of increasing those assistive needs as the medical condition worsens. This can prevent any surprises and the need to move your loved one into a nursing home setting.

Consider your loved one preferences Although it is important that you choose a company that is able to meet the medical needs of your senior parent, consider allowing them to also be a part of the decision process. Allowing them to pick a caretaker, if possible, will allow them to find someone that they will get along with and will enjoy spending their time with.

There is likely to be an increase in elderly care home services. In 2010, there were 40.3 million people aged 65 and above, comprising 13% of the overall population. (This total is 12 times the number it was in 1900, when this group constituted only 4.1% of the population.) By 2050, projections indicate the population over 65 will comprise 20.9% of the population. Caregivers in the home allow this increasing population to receive the medical assistance they require, without having to move entirely to a new living situation. Do your research when picking an in home care company and consider allowing your senior parent to be a part of the choosing process.