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“Aging in Place” In-Home Care

Senior Care of Sacramento’s first priority is to keep the aging client independent and in-home as long as possible. This is called “aging in place”.

Rather than moving into a long-term care facility as they age, older adults prefer to maintain independence within the comfort of their own home for as long as possible. Only when truly necessary does Senior Care of Sacramento provide referrals to personally-approved Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs), Assisted Living Communities, and Board & Care homes. Whenever possible, we will help the senior stay at home, matching your particular situation with the “best fit” California capital region in-home care service that has been vetted by our CEO Therese Johnson.

This is the right choice if the senior’s need is for minor assistance with daily activities and where there is nearby family and friends assuming certain conditions are met. Take a step back to look at the big picture before deciding to opt for stay-at-home long term care. Often, a difficult and expensive decision to leave home is made is haste after a foreseeable sudden loss or emergency.

A chronic medical, mobility, or pain condition that is expected to worsen over time will not allow long term in-home care. Assisted living communities can be expensive, but extensive in-home help and transportation can rapidly become expensive as well at higher levels of care including live-in 24-hour service.

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Fall prevention is crucial to ability to age in place. Therefore it is easier to maintain long term in-home care if the house is a single level ranch style on a relatively flat piece of land, or a first floor condominium. When recommending in-home care or aging in place, Senior Care of California will ensure that there is balance support grab bars in the shower and bathroom, adequate railings, non-skid flooring with no loose throw rugs, and we will identify obstructed pathways that must have enhanced lighting. We will identify any retrofitting requirements include ramps for accessible entry and exit, walk-in shower, sliding shelves, stairlifts, or even a home elevator.

Appropriate location is also essential. In-home care in rural or even many suburban areas that require a lot of driving is not practical or even possible unless, perhaps, there is a public transit point near the home.

Development of painful feelings of isolation is a very real and common problem for seniors who opt to stay at home. Nearby support from friends and family must be available. Many older adults come to rely on family to provide help, but as needs increase, family and friend are unable to fill in all of the gaps. If it becomes impossible to leave home without help, isolation and depression can set in surprisingly fast, though use of the Internet for communication or entertainment can reduce this significantly.

In urban areas there is the option of a day program, also called senior daycare, which will keep the senior busy with activities and socialization during the day, while providing a break for you or other caregivers. Most day programs are primarily social, while others provide limited health services or specialize in disorders such as early stage Alzheimer’s, other dementias, Parkinson’s disease, or even stroke. Senior Care of Sacramento is extremely good at helping you make the decision to opt for In-Home Care at an appropriate level and match you with the right pre-screened service provider who employs compassionate and enthusiastic in-home caregivers.

Custodial in-home care (non-medical), including help with dressing, bathing, meal preparation and feeding, is typically privately funded.

Licensed home health aides provide a higher level of assistance, including medication reminders, blood pressure monitoring, wound care, and more. These are often government funded.

Home care aides, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and caregivers are trained to provide non-custodial or non-medical care, such as help with dressing, bathing, getting in and out of bed, and using the toilet. They may also prepare meals, accompany the client to medical visits, grocery shop, provide companionship and do various other errands.

Home health care providers include licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. Rehabilitation services may be provided by physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and dietitians. California capital region professionals can be independent practitioners, part of a larger organization, or an employee of a franchise.

For patients recovering from surgery or illness, home care may include Medicare-certified rehabilitative and therapeutic short-term nursing addressed primarily through the Medicare Home Health benefit. For terminally ill patients, home care may include hospice care.

Some aging-in-place technologies include:

Pill dispensing devices in order to ensure that necessary medications are taken at appropriate times. Versions are available for Alzheimer’s patients that have a lock.

Wireless wearable devices that alert the patient and/or a control center if there is a problem with the user’s heart rate, respiration, or temperature

Wireless personal alarms that when activated elicit a phone call through the pendant transceiver worn around the neck or wrist to 24-hour control center with whom the senior can speak and request emergency services dispatch if needed.

Remote keyless entry which will allow the senior to view who is at the door and then remotely open and later lock it.

Automatic reminder systems that are connected to the Internet and make announcements over an intercom prompting the aging-in-place senior about taking medicine, eating meals, and keeping appointments.

Spoon-feeding devices.

Though Medicare does not cover most In-Home Care, it does pay for some skilled care if the aging person meets the requirements for the Medicare Home Health Benefit. Senior Care of Sacramento can help sort this out for you and get you any money for which you are entitled. Simply call us now at 916-877-6904 for a free consultation or fill out the form below to get started.

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916-877-6904

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