Nine out of 10 Americans say they want to grow old at home and keep living in their communities as long as possible, according to AARP.
Eventually requiring some form of care is just a fact of aging. But proper planning in advance can give you more options if done right. For instance, would you rather be cared for at home or in an institution?
If you would prefer to stay at home, then you are in good company. According to the AARP, 9 in 10 Americans say they want to grow old at home as long as possible. In-home care was the subject of a recent article in The Wall Street Journal titled “When to Consider In-Home Care.”
Not everyone can find the appropriate in-home care, even while options are rapidly expanding. Depending upon the community and your needs (or the needs of your elderly loved ones), there are many creative ways to make your in-home care a reality.
For example, doctors and nurses can make house calls, while personal care assistants can help with shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. As needs increase, in-home care at the level of basic assisted-living or nursing home care can be found, and often at far less expense.
None of these options come without consequences. As a result, it is worth understanding the attending challenges. Living at home, after all, will limit socialization. More to the point, if care is given directly by a family member, then there is the toll on their life and health, too.
After you read the original article, spend some time looking into your own community. You might just find that your best option is more readily available than you thought.
When it is all said and done, you just might be able to stay at home that much longer.
Reference: The Wall Street Journal (September 15, 2013) “When to Consider In-Home Care”
