David Savitsky outlines why this specific branch of healthcare is flourishing, and will only grow more important in the coming months.
When the pandemic hit in mid-March, it felt like the world came to a halt. Businesses in all industries had to figure out how to address mandatory closures and new operational guidelines. But I knew we couldn’t let our clients down. Seniors across the country rely on the in-home care services provided by CareBuilders at Home.
Even though caregivers are typically non-medical professionals, they can help stop the spread of the virus by keeping seniors at home and safe. Through enhanced safety practices and social distancing, our services protect seniors from the harsh spread of disease often found in long-term care facilities.
The pandemic, along with other factors impacting seniors today, has pushed in-home care to the forefront when it comes to how seniors and their families want to receive care.
Shifting customer wants and needs
Health officials recommend social distancing to help reduce a person’s risk of contracting COVID-19, which means seniors already in long-term facilities cannot have visitors. This is extremely hard on our aging loved ones in nursing homes who want to see friends and family during this trying time.
So, in-home care is attractive for three reasons. First, it’s a safer option as seniors are not exposed to others who may be infected with the virus. Second, it gives seniors more flexibility when it comes to visitors as they’re able to control who they see in their own homes. Third, they continue to live in a comfortable home environment.
It has become abundantly clear that seniors and their families feel they are safer and more secure at home – they can be with friends and family they love, along with their community. That being said, many older seniors need help with some day-to-day tasks and activities of daily living, and this is where in-home care can be most beneficial.
“It has become abundantly clear that seniors and their families feel they are safer and more secure at home”
Even though seniors are safer and more comfortable at home, they sometimes need a third-party person to manage personal tasks. For example, caregivers will help with personal care such as laundry, light cooking, and much more.
The emerging silver tsunami
Right now, the demographic of the aging population is inescapable. Baby boomers are turning 65 years old and are at higher risk for severe health issues. The ‘silver tsunami’ is upon us.
Populations in the United States and across the developed world are aging. Because more and more people are also living longer lives, there is a greater likelihood that they will, at some point, need some level of care. Oftentimes, that level of care does not necessitate the amount of attention one would receive at a nursing home. In many cases, it’s just a caregiver who comes by a couple of times a week who helps with some basic needs. For that reason, in-home caregiving is a much more attractive option for families looking to care for their aging relatives without needing to place them in a restrictive or possibly unsafe nursing home or long term care facility.
In-home care gives seniors and their families control over their lives. They’re able to keep up with routines, friends, and families on their terms. This level of freedom can be lost once seniors move to nursing homes and long term care facilities.
Structured and bespoke
An additional consideration is that nursing homes and assisted living centers have a rigid schedule each day which is controlled by the staff. Residents don’t usually have a say when they eat, do everyday tasks, and other routines – it can make them feel like their independent lives are over.
Also, staff members in these types of facilities are not always a personality fit with every resident with whom they interact. In-home care is a personal service that allows seniors and their families to choose who they receive care from and make sure there is a connection and personality match. It’s truly a customized approach to care and with this unique personal touch, caregivers act as a trusted friend, filling days with companionship, as well as safety.
Scalable costs to fit all requirements
Cost can be very high when it comes to caring for an older relative. Nursing homes and long term care facilities are expensive and many times offer a small selection of high-end pricing options. In fact, most seniors exhaust their resources and, in the United States, rely on Medicaid for financial help due to the large fees.
In-home caregiving avoids that pitfall. It presents a flexible option that allows for families or the senior receiving the care to select how much care they receive which gives them absolute control of costs. Think of it as an à la carte solution to care.
An easy choice to make
In-home caregiving is in high demand right now – with a growing senior citizen population and with illnesses spreading quickly through nursing homes and long term care facilities, now is the time to invest in the in-home care franchise industry.
Not only does in-home care provide flexible cost options and more freedom to choose the caregiver, but it allows families to gain peace of mind by trusting their love ones to be getting the best care possible, in the setting where they are comfortable, familiar, and safe.
THE AUTHOR
David Savitsky is the CEO of CareBuilders at Home, a national network of private duty home care providers.
