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Support and care options for the elderly

Support and care options for the elderly

With more of us living longer, it’s important to think about how we can maintain the quality of our lives and the lives of those we love as we grow older. If you’re caring for an older adult or thinking about your own future, it’s a good idea to understand the different types of support and care options for the elderly.

Everyone’s abilities differ and so do their care needs. To find out what kind of care you or your loved one requires, you should ask for a care assessment from your council’s social services department. This should help you to figure out what kind of care and support you require and come up with a plan.

Care Options for the elderly:

Homecare

If you struggle to do daily tasks at home, such as cleaning, bathing and preparing meals, you may be eligible for homecare support. This might take the form of a home carer or personal assistant. Depending on your circumstances, you might need this kind of care while you’re recovering from an illness or for a longer period of time.

Care for Family offer private in-home services that can be tailored to your specific needs. There is even options to have a live in house care for those who want to stay in their home.

If you have multiple homeware needs then local aged care software is available which will help providers manage your homeware requirements more efficiently, thus making your life easier and supported.

Home adaptations

From getting in and out of bed, to taking a shower, to going up and down the stairs, there are a variety of everyday tasks we can struggle with as we grow older. Thankfully, there are home adaptations, such as adjustable beds, walk-in showers, shower seats and stairlifts, available to help with many of these things. You may be entitled to financial help from your local council to pay for little changes, while you can apply for Disabled Facilities Grant funding for bigger adaptations. Care adaptations manufacturer Alpine HC also suggests contacting a trust like The League of the Helping Hand or a local carer group for more advice on this issue.

Care homes

Following a care assessment, you may find that moving into a care home, or residential home, might be the right decision for you or your relative or friend. Care homes provide accommodation and personal care and/or nursing care to people who need extra help and/or
medical care in their daily lives. There are different types of residential homes available, including care homes where you can get help with tasks such as washing, going to the toilet and taking medicines; nursing homes where you can get personal support as well as care from qualified nurses; care homes especially designed for people with dementia; and dual- registered care homes, which are open to people who need either or both personal care or nursing care.

Sheltered housing

Sheltered housing may be suitable for you if you do not require round-the-clock care but need more support. It could also be a good option if you want to downsize to a smaller home. With this option, you could benefit from a 24 emergency alarm system, help from support staff, shared areas for residents to socialise and social outings and activities for residents.

Making a decision regarding care in later life can seem daunting. However, if you do your research and take advice from professionals such as social workers, occupational therapists and doctors, as well as your nearest and dearest, you should be able to find a solution that is right for you.

This is a collaboration post

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