“England’s population is ageing. In the next 25 years, the number of people older than 85 will double to 2.6 million. In many ways this is something to celebrate. However, as people age the risk of developing illnesses and becoming frail increases, leading to greater need for health and social care.” (The health Foundation)
As the population continues to age, the need for effective solutions to support people in their quest for independent living becomes increasingly crucial. Aging is a natural process, but it often comes with challenges that can hinder the ability to lead an independent and fulfilling life.
However, with the help of home care independent living aids, such as Live-in Care and mobility aids, there is newfound hope for people to maintain their autonomy and quality of life in the comfort of their own home.
In this comprehensive blog post, we will delve into the various aspects of how in home care services can empower independent living.
Before we explore the multitude of in home care services, it's essential to understand the unique needs and challenges of those who need a little extra help to remain in the comfort of their own home. Often faced with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges impacting on their day-to-day ability to live independently. These challenges can include:
Physical Limitations: With age or illness, individuals may experience reduced mobility, muscle strength, and balance. Activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and cooking, can become increasingly challenging.
Cognitive Changes: Cognitive decline, including memory loss and decreased decision-making capacity, can make it difficult to manage day-to-day tasks independently.
Social Isolation: Loneliness and social isolation are prevalent among the elderly or those who are confined to bed, which can lead to depression and other mental health issues.
Chronic Health Conditions: The elderly often have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis, which require ongoing management and care.
To address these challenges and improve quality of life, aids for independent living and in home care services have become a vital resource.
However, rest assured that practical aids need not be drab! Granny Gets a Grip is an online shop for those of any age who need a level of physical support in and around the house. Offering a range of stylish and practical products designed to make life easier and more comfortable while offering fun and funky designs to make life a little more cheerful!
Sophie and Miranda, Directors of Granny Gets a Grip, provide a source of well-designed, practical products that don’t look or feel like they belong in a pound shop or a traditional care home. Offering home care independant living aids, chosen to look as appealing as possible without compromising on quality, safety and performance.
In 2021 Sophie’s father, Peter, had started to need practical aids to help him live independently and make him more comfortable – but something made her see red – his home of more than 50 years had begun to look like a hospital. Why did grab handles, walking sticks and frames have to look so ugly – all white plastic or grey metal? She spoke to her old friend Miranda – as their house-proud mothers had been firm friends for decades and both battled long term illness. And the idea was born.
Should you ever need a device to help you open jars, where will you buy it? And what about an appealing walking stick? If you feel the cold where can you source good heat pads or heated cushions? If you have trouble bending or reaching, what will you get to help and where from? There’s still a stigma around ageing and we hope that by empowering independence through in home care services such as Access Care and Granny Gets a Grip, we can be part of bringing about change. ‘We’ve tried to instill warmth and wit on our site – it has a personality, just like the people who use it.’
Granny Gets a Grip have chosen the best from the mountains of products out there and excluded those that don’t fit the bill. If it’s an adjustable walking stick you need, they’ve done the leg work to save you from the bewildering array. If it’s a wedge cushion to help you sleep at night, they’ve covered them for you in a lovely range of fabrics.
Over the years they’ve spent time caring for parents at home, while struggling to find the practical things they needed and were happy to have in their houses. Now getting older themselves, and feeling that they could put that experience to good use. Granny Gets a Grip is the result.
Innovative Aids for Independent Living
Innovative technologies and products are hugely beneficial to those requiring a level of physical support in and around the house. Home care independent living aids provide copious support, independence and allow people to remain in the comfort of their own homes.
Smart Home Devices: Smart devices such as voice-activated assistants, fall detection systems, and home monitoring cameras can enhance safety and convenience. Age UK have put together an informative list of assistive technology devices for the elderly, click here.
Medication Dispensers: Automated medication dispensers can help people manage their medications independently, ensuring they take the right dosage at the right time. This colour Rack pill box is an easy way to store and organise medication. Consisting of seven pill boxes in fabulous colours, each pill box is marked with a weekday making it simple to keep track of prescriptions, click here.
Mobility Aids: Mobility aids like walkers, canes, and motorised scooters enable seniors to move around more easily, reducing the risk of falls and promoting independence. Keeping mobile is people’s top priority, Granny Gets a Grip have a wide choice of mobility aids to help, click here.
Emergency Response Systems: Personal emergency response systems (PERS) provide a quick way for people to call for help in case of emergencies.
Virtual Communication: Video calls and social media platforms allow people to stay in touch with family and friends, fostering social connections even when physical distances separate them.
Support Groups: Online and in-person support groups provide a platform for seniors to share their experiences and find emotional support from others facing similar challenges.
Home Modifications: Consider making home modifications to accommodate the changing needs of ageing, such as installing grab bars, ramps, and non-slip flooring.
The Role of Home Carers to Support Independent Living
Home carers play a pivotal role in enabling people to maintain their independence and remain in the comfort of their own home while receiving the care they need. With Live-in Care, families can experience true peace of mind, knowing that their parents or loved ones are well taken care of. These dedicated professionals offer a range of services tailored to the individual needs of their clients, including:
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Home carers can help with tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and meal preparation, allowing people to maintain good personal hygiene and nutrition tailored to their specific needs.
Medication Management: Many individuals require multiple medications, and home carers can ensure that medications are taken correctly, on schedule and prescriptions are always kept up to date.
Mobility Support: For those with limited mobility, home carers can provide assistance with transferring, walking, and exercises prescribed by healthcare professionals.
Companion Care: Loneliness and depression are common among those with chronic health conditions facing challenges when leaving their home or finding a support network. Home carers offer companion care, conversation, and emotional support and enjoy having fun with their client! Age UK offers a Silver Line Helpline for those that need to talk. The UK's only free, confidential helpline providing friendship to older people – call 0800 4 70 80 90 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Household Assistance: Home carers can help with light housekeeping, grocery shopping, and other household chores to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment.
The Advantages of Live-in Home Care
In home care services offer numerous advantages for the people seeking to maintain their independence and remain in the comfort of their own homes:
Personalised Care: A Live-in Carer provides private home care, tailored to the specific needs and preferences of each client. This personalised approach ensures that the client receives the care and support they require.
Familiar Environment: The familiarity of remaining at home, surrounded by cherished memories and possessions can enhance emotional well-being and help to keep the client comfortable.
Preservation of Independence: A Live-in Carers aim is to empower people to retain their independence for as long as possible. This includes supporting them in making their own choices and decisions.
Cost-Effective: In many cases, in home care services is more cost-effective than domiciliary care, nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The Live-in Care Hub offers impartial advice on arranging a Live-in Carer.
One-on-One Attention: A Live-in Carer offers private home care focusing solely on the needs of one client, ensuring uninterrupted attention and care that is tailored specifically to their requirements and needs.
Customised Schedules: Clients and families can set a schedule for a Live-in Carer to ensure they provide care at times that suit their routines.
Enhanced Privacy: Private home care provides a higher level of privacy and personalised attention compared to traditional home care services.
Conclusion
In home care services such as Live-in Care and mobility aids can collectively empower independence at home for people with disabilities, seniors, or those facing health challenges. These two elements work together to enhance quality of life, safety, and autonomy, allowing individuals to maintain their dignity and remain in the comfort of their own homes.
The collective synergy between a Live-in Carer and mobility aids is a powerful approach to empowering independence at home. This combination addresses physical, emotional, and social needs, promoting a sense of self-sufficiency and dignity. It allows individuals to age in a place of familiarity or recover from illnesses while maintaining a high quality of life within the familiar and comfortable environment of their own homes.
Since 1994 Access Care has led the charge in arranging support for the elderly living at home. Specialists in live-in elderly care, we introduce professional, qualified, Live-in Carers across the UK.
We provide families true peace of mind by arranging the finest carers to live with people in their own home. We arrange Live-in Care with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. We believe organising elder live in care should be a positive experience and we will make it one for you. We truly believe there’s no place like home. For further information or advice please call our friendly consultants on 01264 319 399 or visit www.access-care.co.uk