My
mother, who is 77 years old, suffered a stroke last year. As a consequence, she
has had to leave her independent life behind and go live with my brother and
his family. However, my brother and his wife both hold full time jobs and, as
good as their intentions may be, they need help in looking after our aging mom while
she continues to stay with them. This kind of scenario raises a valid concern
for a lot of people in the same position. How do we care for our senior parents
when we’re so busy (sometimes overwhelmed) with our own day to day lives?
About
1 in 4 Canadian seniors receive home care each year, and about 50% of those seniors
rely on friends, family, or neighbors to provide them with the help they need. Sadly, home care for the elderly can be quite a
challenge, especially for those loved ones who must meet the demands of a boss,
tend to the well being of their children, and submit to various other
responsibilities. Sometimes it’s best to leave home care to the professionals!
Home
care is not only valuable to the caregiver but also to the elderly because it allows
them to continue leading a somewhat independent life. It can also delay the
need for hospitalization, as well as decrease the likelihood of
institutionalization, which subsequently benefits the health care system.
The
most common types of home care programs usually include providing
transportation, home maintenance or housework, and meal preparation. Depending
on the state of the senior’s health and mobility, assistance with eating,
dressing or bathing is sometimes required.
Use
the services available in your community to help you look after your loved one.
Organizations like The Red Cross offer services such as
bathing, feeding, grooming, meal preparation, companionship, and grocery
shopping. The Red Cross was the first to
bring Meals on Wheels to Canada,
a program that helps
those who are unable to shop for groceries and cook their own food by
delivering nutritious, delicious and affordable meals to seniors in the comfort
of their home.
Health insurance plans specifically designed with
seniors in mind are significantly helpful.
Some of the benefits not only include coverage for health care services,
but also cover the rental of medically necessary equipment such as crutches,
non-electric wheel-chairs, hospital beds, oxygen, and other types of remedial
appliances.
Having
a private health insurance plan can make a big difference in the quality of your
life during the golden years. It makes good sense to examine your options now.
