Activities of daily living (ADLs) are the key components a person needs to live. It includes activities like being able to eat, use a toilet, take a shower, and walk around. Are these the things you think of when the topic of elder care is brought up?
There's a lot more to elder care than assistance with ADLs. Here are the top services that help older adults who want to age at home.
Companionship
One of the biggest benefits of elder care services is companionship. Your mom has a friend stopping by to help out and keep her company. She has someone to shop with, play games with, and accompany her on walks.
Your mom loves to work in her gardens, but she doesn't feel comfortable outside on her own. Her caregiver can help her in the garden. She has someone to help her carry gardening tools, move the wheelbarrow, or pick the ripe vegetables and fruits.
Meal Preparation
Your mom doesn't often cook on her own, or she doesn't eat a lot if she's eating alone. Instead of having her eat a quick frozen dinner, she can have a home-cooked meal prepared by her elder care aide. She also has someone to join her for that meal.
If your mom doesn't like to go grocery shopping, her caregiver can join her. They can come up with a weekly meal plan, create a shopping list, and shop for the appropriate items. Back at home, the caregiver can carry in the bags and put things away.
Housekeeping
Your mom doesn't enjoy housework, and some tasks are harder for her to do on her own. Her caregiver can carry the vacuum upstairs to the bedroom to vacuum the floors. Her caregiver can carry the wash to the laundry room, do the laundry, and put items away when they're dry.
Elder care aides can wash dishes, pick up clutter, and water plants. They can take out the trash and recycling and put the bins back after the hauler has emptied them.
Transportation
Instead of having to drive or not being able to go out if your mom's doctor has told her to stop, your mom has a driver to take her around to stores, restaurants, and other area businesses. She has a caregiver to drive her to appointments.
Talk to an Elder Care Specialist to Arrange the Services to Support Her
When elder care sounds like the best way to support your mom as she ages in place, don't hesitate to set it up. You control how often the caregivers visit and the services your mom gets. Add them as you need to or remove things she's finding herself able to do if she is recovering from an illness or injury.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING ELDER CARE IN PALO ALTO, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY. (408) 317-4969
