Caring for an elderly loved one can be challenging. There’s no denying that. However, you don’t have to care for the seniors you love by yourself, and sending Mom or Dad to a nursing home isn’t your only option. Home health care is an excellent alternative and allows our aging population to remain happy, healthy, and independent. Here are five reasons to choose home health care for seniors!

1. Home health care is affordable!

We’ll start with this one because it is often the biggest concern for those caring for their elderly loved ones. The cost of home care is almost always more affordable than nursing home or assisted living care. This is because home care can be individualized to meet specific client needs. Home care professionals don’t expect clients to fit into a standard plan of care. As a result, a caregiver can visit as little or as often as your loved one needs. For those in relatively good health, a caregiver may only need to come during mealtimes or to run errands once a week. If your loved one’s needs increase, you can always increase care hours and will likely still pay less than what you would pay for nursing home care.

2. Caregivers help with more than medical issues.

We’ve heard many seniors say, “I don’t need a caregiver. I’m perfectly healthy.” What these seniors don’t realize is that caregivers can help with more than medical issues. Yes, they can assist with medication and such, but they can also prepare meals, take seniors to their doctors’ appointments, and offer companionship. We know that you would love to have time to help your parent or loved one with all of these things, but you have other responsibilities. By opting for in-home care, you can have peace of mind knowing that more than your loved one’s medical needs are being met.

3. Home health care allows seniors to keep their independence.

Your parents or loved ones may be aging, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t value their independence. In fact, losing independence is a big fear for seniors. In-home care allows seniors to remain in control. For example, a senior who is no longer able to drive may feel discouraged and stuck at home. A caregiver can help this senior keep his or her independence through transportation services. Whether the senior needs to go to the doctor or wants to see a movie, a caregiver can make this happen. This is not something that seniors in most nursing homes can enjoy.

4. Home health care allows seniors to stay in their homes or with their families.

Moving into a nursing home can be scary for both seniors and their families, but choosing home health care solves this problem. With the assistance of a caregiver, Mom and Dad can comfortably live in their home or your home. This is ideal for most families.

5. Home health care comes with many blessings.

Yes, it can be difficult for seniors to admit that they need assistance, but in-home care comes with several blessings. The obvious ones–like maintaining independence and getting to remain at home–are listed above, but there are also unforeseen blessings. For example, caregivers almost become part of the family, especially when a senior has the same caregiver for many years. While a caregiver’s role is to make sure seniors are healthy and cared for, seniors and their caregivers spend quite a bit of time together, making it easy to form a special bond.

If these reasons to choose home health care for seniors aren’t convincing enough, it might be helpful to know that more than 90% of individuals prefer home care over comparable institutional care. Find out how the seniors in your life would prefer to be cared for by discussing options with them.

Angels Senior Home Solutions is a based-in-faith company that provides in-home healthcare and personal care services for seniors. Visit our website here or find us on Facebook or Twitter!