How to Deal With Elder Home Care

It is projected that nearly 40% of England's population will be over 50 by 2029 but the majority will be active and able to cope independently. However as these people age, they will become more dependent on some form of elder home care, help from relatives and possibly home care services to retain their independence.

The need for elderly care at home can happen at any time and can be triggered by an accident, such as a fall in the bathroom, or it can happen over time and often the need comes to a head such as when a person has a debilitating illness for example arthritis or dementia and finally cannot cope without help.

Health Care

Always get an assessment of your relative's need for elderly home care and the assistance required to help family carers. This is carried out by your local social services because the Single Assessment Process combines the assessment for local authority social services with health care and is the gateway to any home care services that may be available.

If possible, many people convert an annex to their home for their relative to move into. This solution has many advantages, in that the person can retain their independence but have help nearby when elder home care is needed. It also enables your relative to see and be part of the family including the children's lives which is a benefit to them too. With increasing job mobility, too many children have little experience of living with older people as their grandparents often live miles away.

When preparing home care for someone who has limited ability to look after themselves, it is important to ensure that the accommodation is safe and warm. You need to remove items such as trip hazards and install grab rails in the bathroom and wherever else they are needed. Your local authority social services department should be able to advise you on this and there is more information available by following this link housing

If you have to care for someone in their own home, it is important to follow the same rules on their accommodation but also contact social services as they will be able to advise you on other products such as emergency lifelines and other devices that can be activated in an emergency. Obviously when you have to travel to care, this makes things harder for you, as their carer because you cannot do some of your own work in between your caring duties which you would do if you were caring in your relative's part of your own home.

It is also vitally important that you take care of the legal side of things. These are making a Lasting Power of Attorney and either reviewing an existing Will or making a new one.

Lasting Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is an important document because it ensures that there is someone in place to make financial or welfare decisions if a person is unable to make these for their self.
An LPA is a legal document which enables a person aged 18 or over (the Donor) to appoint another person or persons (the Attorney) to act on their behalf and make decisions for that person. When making an LPA a person can also chose to delegate to attorneys' decisions relating to personal welfare - including health care and medical treatment decisions - as well as decisions regarding property and financial matters.

Making a Will

Regardless of a person's wealth, making a Will is an essential step in estate planning and gives a person peace of mind in knowing that arrangements have been made regarding the administration of their estate. A Will sets out clearly who is to receive property and possessions, thus avoiding disputes between relatives and avoiding unnecessary legal costs.

Caring for an elderly relative and handling your own responsibilities is not easy task and it is very important that you look after your own health too. Ensure that you investigate sources of elder home care and take any that is offered and, if there are other members of the family that they take their share of the responsibility too.

How to Deal With Elder Home Care