Tuesday 22 January 2019

Without Proper Elder Care Services Dixmoor Pensioners Have Few Options

By Stephanie Meyer


Due to medical advances, better diets, regular exercise and many other factors the life expectancies of people in developed countries are steadily rising. In the western world, especially, the elderly form an ever increasing percentage of the total population. As people grow old, their needs change and they may need more frequent medical care. Many older people grow too frail to perform all the day to day tasks that they used to do. With professional elder care services Dixmoor pensioners can still enjoy life.

The vast majority of older people needing assistance do not become disabled or weak overnight. They gradually deteriorate and it may be quite a while before their loved ones realize that they can simply no longer cope alone. Most older people will not readily admit that they cannot cope any longer and it may require some effort to convince them to accept some help from a caregiver.

Many older people think that it is the duty of their families and loved ones to look after them when they can no longer look after themselves. However, modern families are busy and there is simply no enough time to spend with a frail loved one. In such situations tension quickly rises with resentment, anger and feelings of guilt slowly building up. Getting professional help is a far better solution.

Official statistics show that more than eighty percent of people over the age of sixty will need some form of assistance. In some cases this help may only be needed on a part time basis, or just while the patient recovers from surgery or illness, but in numerous other cases assistance will be required permanently. Given the statistics it is only sensible to plan ahead for such an eventuality.

Sadly, very few families can afford the cost of hiring a caregiver for a long time. It is important to know that medical insurance will not cover this cost and that it is up to every individual to plan for such an eventuality. The prudent thing to do is to realize that help will be required in all probability and to purchase insurance that will pay for the cost of hiring a caregiver.

Many families think that the best solution is to place frail elderly loved ones in old age homes or other institutions. For mentally alert elderly people this can easily become a nightmare. They lose their independence, their privacy, the ability to determine their own programs and routine and they often develop conditions such as anxiety and depression. A caregiver provides all the help that is needed in the comfort of the home.

When hiring a caregiver every effort should be made to find someone that is not just experienced, but that is also compatible with the patient. Caregivers spend a lot of time with their patients and it is important that they get along well. It may be best to have a few candidates spend a few days or weeks with the patient before a final decision is made.

Caregivers allow their charges to keep enjoying life to the fullest and to retain their independence and dignity. Their patients do not just depend upon them for personal assistance, but also for companionship. Very strong bonds between caregivers and their patients are not uncommon.




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