The majority of older Americans now wish to remain in their homes as they age. If and when your loved one expresses their desire to stay at home, you’re probably worried about helping them age safely with proper care and preserved quality of life. You can help your loved one live at home for longer with proper planning, support, and appropriate person-centered care. Depending on the situation, one or a combination of the following care options may be the most ideal fit for your elder relative to age in place at home: home care, home health care, and family caregivers.
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
There are several home care service options available to help elderly parents age in place, meaning your loved one continues to live at home and in their community without losing their independence, safety, or quality of life.[01]
Nonmedical in-home care for seniors can provide a range of supportive services, including housekeeping, personal care assistance, support during travel, and more, depending on the needs of the client. Home care employees, sometimes called home care aides or personal care aides, assist seniors with daily needs so they can safely age in place. Home care aides can also support the efforts of family caregivers.
Some seniors may need occasional help with transportation and meal preparation. Others who require incontinence care, have dementia, or need mobility assistance may need full-time personal care and help around the house.
When home care aides support your elderly parent at home, they might help with any of the following activities:
Depending on the services needed, the amount of home care someone receives can be as little as a few hours a week to round-the-clock care. Generally, providers charge by the hour, and some agencies may require hourly minimums per week or per visit.
According to A Place for Mom’s 2023 proprietary data, families can expect to pay between $21 and $50 per hour for home care, depending on their state.[03]
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Home health care consists of skilled medical care provided in a senior’s own home. Home health nurses or other qualified medical professionals may provide these home health care services.
Home health aides can also assist with medical care, but only under the direction of a registered nurse. Their activities with your loved one may include the following:
This type of in-home care for elderly adults is best for those with urgent or ongoing medical issues. The hours needed with this type of care can vary greatly based on your loved one’s unique health concerns. Some home health care services may be covered by Medicare. Depending on whether your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may cover home health care.
Taking care of an aging parent can be a worthwhile endeavor for many adult children. If your parent has cared for you for most of your life, you may now be ready to give back and take care of them.
Many people choose this option for their loved ones. In fact, 53 million unpaid caregivers provide more than $470 billion worth of support to family and friends each year — an amount that rivals the budget for the entire federal Medicare program.[04]
If you have the time and the resources to dedicate to being a primary family caregiver for your aging relative, you should consider using the following resources to supplement your hard work:
Read related article:Home Companion Care: Friendship for Seniors
Our advisors help 300,000 families each year find the right senior care for their loved ones.
The idea of aging in place holds that older adults should be able to receive care in their homes or a community of their choice. Seniors can receive care in their current residence regardless of reduced physical abilities, cognitive abilities, or other factors that make it increasingly challenging to remain independent.[01].
You can help your loved one age in place with family caregiving, home care, home health care, or even age-friendly modifications to the home environment. These person-centered and family-centered care options can help preserve your loved one’s autonomy and ability to age safely and with dignity at home.
While your loved one’s situation is unique, there are some positives and negatives of aging in place that may apply to many seniors in the U.S.
Seniors who choose to age in place may enjoy the following benefits:
However, there are some potential drawbacks to aging in place at home, including the following factors:
Helping a loved one age in place can be challenging at times. Use the following pointers to make sure providing care at home goes as smoothly as possible.
A big part of preparing for home care is making a plan. Talk with your loved one about their wishes and desires for their future before it becomes reality. The more time you have to prepare, the more likely you’ll be able to accommodate your loved one’s preferences.
Encourage your loved one to play an active role in the planning for their care. Listen with an open mind. The things that may be important to your relative may be different from what you anticipated.
A safe home environment can prevent falls, promote wellness, and increase the viability of living at home for longer. You can use our home safety checklist to address common safety hazards in your loved one’s home. You should also encourage your loved one to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies.
Loneliness is a serious issue, with prolonged isolation appearing to be as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.[05] Additionally, the Harvard Study of Adult Development — an almost 80-year study into adult life — demonstrates that close relationships and the happiness they create play a significant role in staving off mental and physical decline over time.[06]
Social connections are as important as physical wellness. Be sure to tailor socialization to your loved one’s unique personality and interests.
If you’re planning to take care of your elderly parent at home for any amount of time, you’ll play a critical role in their wellness. However, you must take care of yourself in order to properly care for your loved one as they age in place.
Caregiver burnout can become a serious issue without proper breaks. Remember to prioritize your own mental, physical, and spiritual needs. Plan a time that’s only for you each day. This could be as simple as a bubble bath, a quick moment of prayer, or drinking a favorite beverage.
While many seniors want to continue to live at home, situations arise that make it less than ideal to try to age in place at home. It may be time to consider community care instead of in-home care if your loved one experiences any of the following challenges:
Hiring an in-home caregiver can feel like a daunting task for an adult child trying to find the right fit for a parent’s unique situation. Our Senior Living Advisors can help you with any of the following steps:
From sending in-home care resources to answering all your questions regarding senior living, we’re here to assist you every step of the way — all at no cost to your family.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009, October 15). Healthy places terminology.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2022, September 1). How you can prevent chronic diseases.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
USAging. (2022, March). Policy priorities 2022: Promote the health, security, and well-being of older adults.
Domonell, K. (2018, February 28). Is loneliness worse for you than smoking? Right as Rain by UW Medicine.
Mineo, L. (2017, April 11). Good genes are nice, but joy is better. The Harvard Gazette.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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