Home Care Agencies Help An Aging Population
The number of American seniors is set to reach 70 million by 2030. This enormous growth is causing many experts to sound alarms on the ability of our country to care for its aging population and call for new legislation that addresses the lack of long-term care infrastructure. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities can be great options, but research shows that most aging adults don’t want to move away from home.
The Aging in Place Movement
Compared to many developed countries, Americans tend to be “home happy.” That is to say that when somebody has a stroke or needs to recover from surgery, the first thought is often, “Let’s get them into a nursing home.” In other places, the first thought is, “How are we able to help ill or injured seniors safely and comfortably recover at home?”
Seniors in the States are feeling more empowered than ever to stay at home as long as possible, even as their health changes or starts to decline. For many, it’s more than just about retaining independence, but comfort, familiarity, and the memories that they have made over the years. With the aging in place movement in full swing, home care agencies are stepping up to meet seniors’ needs, whether through light daily assistance or more involved home medical care.
Why Home Care?
Home care agencies like Atrio can provide a tremendous amount of relief to an overwhelmed system and step in to ease the worries of aging adults. The lack of a long-term care plan in this country isn’t just an infrastructure issue; it’s an ethical one. The aging generation has contributed so much to our communities, and we owe it to them to provide the quality care they need. Providing better, safer, and a greater variety of options for them to choose how and where they age is an important part of that.
Technology Helping with Home Safety.
A primary concern for those considering aging at home and their loved ones is safety. What happens if they fall? What if they forget to take their medication? What if their health conditions need to be more closely monitored? When a nurse, therapist, or aide isn’t around, there are a growing number of options that are making aging in place a bigger reality, from telehealth monitoring to medication reminders and personal emergency response systems. Along with assisting with daily activities or medical care at home, Atrio can help evaluate needs and implement safety solutions.
To learn more about telehealth monitoring and home safety technology, watch our webinar here.
