Your Guide to 24/7 Home Care for Elderly Parents
Realizing that your elderly parent needs 24-hour care can be an emotionally overwhelming experience. As care needs increase, families often struggle to understand how to ensure their loved one's safety, comfort, and well-being through comprehensive home care. While this transition can feel daunting, understanding your options and recognizing when additional support is necessary can make all the difference for both you and your aging parent.
For many families, exploring 24-hour care for the elderly arises when their loved one's care requirements surpass what family members can manage. Whether due to chronic health conditions, cognitive decline, or increased physical limitations, finding the right assistance for taking care of elderly parents is essential.
This guide will help you understand the signs that indicate a need for around-the-clock care, explore various care options for elderly parents, and share how to get 24-hour care for an elderly loved one at home.
Understanding In-home Care and 24/7 Home Care
As your loved one ages, there may come a time when they need help with normal daily activities and possibly even assistance 24/7. You or other family members might be able to help for a while, but eventually, you may need professional in-home caregivers to step in.
When considering care options for your aging parent, it's important to understand the different levels of support available. Let's explore how in-home care services can adapt to meet your loved one's changing needs, from periodic assistance to comprehensive, around-the-clock care.
What Is Professional In-home Care?
In-home care provides personalized support and assistance to seniors in the comfort of their own homes. Rather than moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home, your loved one can maintain their independence while receiving professional care that adapts to their specific needs and routines.
Traditional in-home care services can range from a few hours per week to several hours each day, with caregivers assisting in various aspects of daily living. These services often include:
Bathing, dressing, and grooming
Providing medication reminders
Preparing nutritious meals (and assisting with feeding when necessary)
Light housekeeping and laundry
Transportation to medical appointments and social activities
Companionship and emotional support
But as your loved one continues to age, you may find that your elderly parent needs more hands-on care, possibly even care throughout the day and night.
What Is 24/7 Home Care for the Elderly?
When your elderly parent needs around-the-clock support, 24/7 home care becomes a practical option. This comprehensive level of care ensures your loved one has constant supervision and assistance all day and night.
24-hour home care is particularly beneficial for seniors who:
Wake frequently during the night and need assistance
Face increased fall risks or mobility challenges
Live with progressive conditions like dementia or Alzheimer's
Require constant monitoring due to chronic health conditions
Need help with positioning or transfers throughout the day and night
Cannot safely be left alone for any period of time
Unlike facilities with fixed schedules, in-home 24-hour care for the elderly keeps your loved one in the comfort of their home and is fully customized to your parent's preferences and daily routines. Caregivers work to maintain your loved one's preferred schedule for meals, activities, and rest periods, creating a more comfortable experience.
Additionally, 24/7 in-home care alleviates the stress and pressure on you or other family members. You can enjoy time with your aging loved ones without the pressures of having to provide care or worrying about their safety when you’re not around.
Signs Your Elderly Parent May Need 24-Hour Home Care
Every family's situation is unique, and so is making the decision to transition to around-the-clock care. However, certain signs may indicate that your elderly parent needs more comprehensive support to ensure their safety and well-being while they age.
Physical Health and Safety Concerns: Changes in your loved one's physical condition often signal a need for increased supervision and support. For example, if your loved one experiences frequent falls (especially at night) or has difficulty managing their medications independently, they could benefit from 24/7 care.
Cognitive Changes: Changes in mental sharpness or behavior can make independent living unsafe. Watch for signs such as increased confusion or disorientation (especially in the evening), poor judgment that may pose safety risks, or neglecting to eat meals or take essential medications.
Daily Living Challenges: When basic self-care becomes difficult, 24/7 home care can help maintain quality of life. Consider these signs:
Difficulty with personal hygiene routines
Poor nutrition or weight loss due to the inability to prepare meals
Household tasks being consistently neglected
Bills going unpaid or mail piling up
Inability to maintain a safe and clean living environment
Challenges managing their daily schedule or appointments
Family Caregiver Strain: Sometimes, the need for 24/7 home care for elderly parents becomes apparent through its impact on you or other family caregivers. If you or others caring for aging loved ones begin to experience burnout, sleep deprivation from providing nighttime assistance, or emotional stress affecting family relationships and personal well-being, it may be time to consider professional 24-hour in-home care.
Remember that seeking additional support isn't a sign of failure—it's often the most loving choice you can make for both you and your aging loved one. Professional caregivers can provide the consistent, skilled care your loved one needs while allowing you or other family members to focus on quality time together rather than caregiving tasks.
Alternatives to 24-hour In-home Care for the Elderly
Families often consider multiple care options for their elderly parents before choosing 24-hour in-home care.
Family Caregiving
Caring for an elderly loved one yourself can be more cost-effective than hiring professional in-home care or placing them in a care facility. However, family members who attempt to provide care often experience rapid burnout and lack the professional medical training necessary for comprehensive support. The emotional and mental strain can create tension in family relationships and prove unsustainable long-term.
Adult Daycare Centers
These facilities provide supervised activities during working hours but leave significant gaps in care. With limited operating hours, required transportation, and no overnight support, adult daycare centers cannot meet the needs of seniors who require constant assistance during the day and night.
Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes
Assisted living communities and nursing homes force seniors to leave their familiar home environment, significantly reducing their independence and personal comfort. And with the large number of other residents and few staff, it’s often tough to get dedicated care whenever your loved one needs it.
While each care option mentioned above has some benefits, 24-hour in-home care often provides the most comprehensive, compassionate solution for seniors.
How to Get 24-hour Care for Elderly Loved Ones at Home
In the article above, we provided a brief overview of in-home care (and more specifically, 24/7 home care), listed common signs an elderly parent needs 24-hour care, and explored a few alternative care options for elderly parents.
So, what do you do when you realize your loved one needs around-the-clock care? How do you get 24/7 home care for elderly parents?
If you’ve got an aging loved one, and you’re searching for “24-hour home care near me”, Commonwise Home Care could be your solution.
At Commonwise Home Care, we have a specialized 24-hour in-home care program that provides compassionate, professional care tailored to your loved one's unique needs. Our expert RN Care Managers work closely with you and your family to craft a care plan specific to your aging loved one. Then, our highly trained caregivers implement the plan, maintaining your parent's dignity, independence, and quality of life. But we don’t stop there—as your loved one’s care needs change, so does the care plan.
Contact us today to learn more about our 24-hour in-home care program. We understand that choosing 24/7 home care for your elderly loved one is a significant decision, but we’re here to help you every step of the way.