5 Ways to Provide In-Home Help for Seniors

Published In In-Home Care

The “aging network” provides many resources for the elderly and their families at little or no cost. The challenge is understanding what those services are, what they are called and how to access them. There are two broad categories of resources available to seniors. One subset of those services is available through agencies and organizations called “community-based services.” The other category of resources is known as “in-home” or “home-based” services. In this post, we will discuss In-Home Services.

In-Home Services

  • Homemaker/Chore Services – A Homemaker or Home Health Aide is a trained person who can come to a person’s home and assist with care and daily activities Some of the activities that an aide may help with include housekeeping, cooking, shopping and companionship.
  • Home Health Care – For an individual who needs more help with personal care, the service might include help with bathing, dressing, eating and/or wound care. In this situation, the home health aides are not nurses, but they may be supervised by a registered nurse.
  • Respite Care – To find respite care programs in your area, visit the ARCH National Respite Locator Services.
  • Meals on Wheels – Hot, nutritious meals are available to be delivered to the elderly, disabled, and homebound. It is funded by the federal government and relies on volunteers and donations to fulfill its mission. Meals are typically delivered Monday through Friday. Some programs provide a weekend meal as well.
  • Friendly Visitors – This program matches seniors with volunteers for weekly one-hour companionship sessions. There is no cost for this program.

Home Services for Veterans

The Veterans’ Administration offers financial support for Veterans who need skilled services, case management and help with activities of daily living at home. This program is designed to assist veterans who are isolated or to help a caregiver with the burden of caregiving. Homemaker and Home Health Aide services can be used in combination with other Home and Community Based Services.

Where to Find Help

(This article has been updated in January, 2024 since it originally published in April 2016.)

About Jim McCabe DSW, MSW, MPH

Dr. Jim McCabe is the president of Eldercare Resources -- a health care management company that provides comprehensive health care solutions and strategic planning services in a broad variety of settings. He consults with estate planning firms, financial planning professionals and trust companies in the areas of risk management and long term care. The focus of this work has been on educating professionals on the essentials of client engagement and service delivery with senior clients and their families. Dr. McCabe’s firm has developed valuable training tools and programs to assist in meeting the challenges of eldercare and managing the changing needs of clients as they age.

Author's Webpage: http://www.eldercareresources.biz

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