Non-Medical Home Care: One Solution to Isolation and Loneliness

I was in a client's home the other day and a family member told me, "Mom has improved so much since we came to visit. When we first got here, I thought this was the beginning of the end. Now, she has perked up, she looks better and her appetite has improved." What the family member described, the listlessness, the lack of interest in daily activities and even a loss of appetite can be a result of isolation and loneliness. When we think of Home Care, we tend to think of nurses and therapist; aides to help with bathing and dressing. While non-medical home care companies can assist with bathing and dressing, they offer a world of other services. Two of the most valuable in combating isolation and loneliness are companion care and transportation. But, you say, " My family member has never been into the social scene. They are used to being alone, and when I ask them, they tell me they are very happy to be on their own. If they want to go somewhere, they can call Assess-a-Ride. They do not have to stay home." That may be true to some extent, but like all things, moderation is the key. Too much alone time can encourage people to withdraw into themselves and magnify small problems and concerns. Our mind is like a small child, it needs activity or it creates it from whatever is around us. Studies have shown that people who stay engaged in life, live longer healthier lives. Non-medical home care can provide services to combat isolation and loneliness: companionship and transportation. Join us as West Roybal, President of Home Helpers in Longmont, CO shares the benefits of non-medical home care. He will also discuss electronic monitoring and options available for medication dispensing and monitoring. He website is: www.homehelpers.cc. Show is hosted by Christine Miller, RN, CSA; www.HeartsAndHomesForSeniors.com; Your Assisted Living Guide.