As people get older, they often experience a physical decline – ranging from a reduction in their lung capacity to a heightened susceptibility to suffer falls. This gradual decline makes even the most basic of tasks difficult for an elderly person to carry out. When this decline reaches a certain point they might require the regular support of a carer of family member. In some instances they might be moved to a residential care home. Here, they’ll live permanently, receiving the level of care they require from professional carers in a well-equipped facility. However, some families are reluctant to see their elderly loved-ones move into a care home. Instead they’ll opt for care at home. Care at home is, for many, a more flexible option. With this particular option, a carer provides care in the home of the elderly person. Some home care agencies offer care at home services that feature the carer moving in with the person they’re caring for on a permanent basis. They’ll cater to all of their requirements depending on the circumstances – from preparing meals to helping the person they’re caring for get around the house. It also ensures that elderly people have someone to help them if they suffer a fall, or become ill, for example. In some families, a son or daughter might provide this support. However, because of work or childcare commitments, it’s not always possible for family members to dedicate the time needed to provide full-time care for an elderly relative. When such circumstances occur care at home services offer a suitable resolution. Although you might seek care at home from a specialist agency, there’s a possibility the person being cared for might require specific pieces of equipment. These pieces of equipment could, for example, help to give an elderly person some independence, or even provide assistance for carers – making it easier for them to provide care at home. Some providers of care at home may be able to offer support. However, in most cases the responsibility for purchasing this equipment will fall on the family members of the elderly person receiving care. But what options are open to them in getting this equipment? Well, the first, and probably the first one that springs to mind to many people in this situation, is to buy the equipment privately. It benefits the care at home being provided to a loved-one, so it’s certainly worth it. To buy the equipment outright, though, might rely on a family member actually having a considerable amount of money saved – especially if this equipment’s particularly sophisticated. And sadly, for various reasons, this isn’t always possible. The second option is to apply for it through a community care assessment. These assessments are normally conducted by the local authorities to see if the person receiving care at home is eligible to receive support from social services. If they deem the person receiving care at home to be eligible, they’ll be able to provide support in a variety of different forms – from funding the costs of care at home to providing access to the specialist equipment carers might require. When people reach old age, they often suffer physical decline, which leaves them struggling, if not completely unable, to carry out the tasks they were previously able to do. This article looks at where families could go for care at home support for their elderly loved ones. To find out more about home care support, go to Helping Hands.
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