Home Care for Disabled Seniors: Here’s What You Need to Know

Home care or home health care services can help seniors age in place while alleviating family caregivers of daily duties and minimizing the risk of caregiver burnout and stress. Through in-home care services, seniors living with disabilities and their families can find assistance and support from knowledgeable professionals as often as they need it.

In-home care services for seniors with disabilities

Nonmedical home care provides assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. These activities can include the following tasks:

• Bathing and grooming assistance
• Medication reminders
• Light housekeeping
• Transportation to errands, appointments, and other outings
• Companion care
• Meal preparation

Is home care the right fit?

Home health care services are provided by certified medical professionals to meet the needs of adults with disabilities. Home health services are only provided following a prescription from a doctor and can include the following:

• Health status monitoring
• Medication administration including intravenous medications and injections
• Physical, speech, and occupational therapy
• Wound care
• Medical testing

Private home care services allow seniors living with physical, cognitive, or intellectual disabilities to receive the care they need to maintain their health and independence.

By helping with daily chores and personal care tasks, home care professionals reduce the burden of completing such tasks for seniors with disabilities and their families. Seniors living with disabilities can focus on other priorities or hobbies, and family caregivers can avoid burnout.

With in-home health care services from licensed professionals, family caregivers don’t have to worry about not having the skills or knowledge to provide quality medical care for their loved ones. Home health care services can also help seniors with disabilities stay out of the hospital.

Home care questions? Get expert help

Many family caregivers prefer to keep their loved ones living at home, whether it’s because their loved one feels more confident and comfortable there, the family wants to continue providing some care, or the senior wants to maintain their independence. Home care services can be a practical solution for seniors with disabilities and their families.

When choosing a home care agency, there are various factors to consider and steps to take to find the care that best fits your loved one’s needs. The first step is deciding what type of care is needed and how often. Next, you’ll need to reach out to agencies with questions about their services, costs, caregivers, and policies. This can be a time-intensive process, but these steps will help you compare providers and make an informed decision.

While aging in place might be the preferred option, there can come a time when in-home care for disabled adults may no longer satisfy all care requirements. When a senior’s disability progresses and they begin requiring a safer living environment and more assistance, it may be time to explore different options like assisted living or a residential care home.

With help from an A Place for Mom Senior Living Advisor, family caregivers can find the care option that suits their loved one’s lifestyle, needs, and preferences. Our knowledgeable advisors can help you compare costs, schedule tours, and find the support you’re looking for at no cost to you.