The Essential Points to Know About Home Care for Seniors

Many elderly people choose to stay at home, even when they are at an advanced stage of aging and show signs of dependency.

Indeed, in France, out of 8,500,000 people, only 255,000 live in nursing homes and other specialized facilities.

As home care is widely favored, many solutions to promote autonomy have emerged. We will discuss both technical means and human resources, as well as assistance from the State.

The Importance of Home Care for Elderly People

Home care is a choice that can be explained by the attachment that elderly people have to their homes. It is a logical choice, as it allows them to maintain their lifestyle habits, particularly the freedom to do what they want when they want (as much as possible, depending on their level of autonomy), which is not possible, for example, in a nursing home.

Moreover, home care offers the advantage of staying close to their loved ones, especially their family.

Furthermore, it is important to note that home care can be less expensive than entering a nursing home. Indeed, maintaining an elderly person at home requires making adjustments to the living space.

Depending on the type of adjustments needed, the average cost of modifications is 4,280 euros, while the monthly fee for a nursing home is 2,200 euros. The comparison reveals a clear difference, which can serve as an additional motivation to choose home care.

Existing Home Care Solutions

As mentioned earlier, to keep a person at home, certain modifications are sometimes necessary to assist them in their loss of autonomy.

We can categorize them as follows:

• Technical Means

Technical means have been specially designed to enable seniors to perform daily tasks for which they have difficulties due to their advanced age.

Among them, we can mention mobility aids such as canes, walkers, electric scooters, wheelchairs, or stairlifts, as well as aids for hygiene such as toilet seat risers, grab bars, and walk-in bathtubs… There is also special equipment designed to provide them with daily comfort, such as medical beds, support belts, and ergonomic pillows…

It is important to note that most of the time, seniors are resistant to change. However, when faced with the facts, they can understand, for example, that a two-story house makes daily movement somewhat difficult, and that a single-story apartment or house is more reassuring for family members who have less to worry about falls down the stairs. Or that their strength diminishes over time and that their joints can no longer support heavy cast iron pots, which will need to be replaced with lighter kitchen utensils.

• Technological Means

Many technologies have been put to the service of home care for elderly people. The most well-known is undoubtedly teleassistance, an alarm system specially designed so that elderly people can alert qualified operators in case of difficulties, falls, or malaise. This device is designed to trigger automatically in certain situations, such as falls.

Teleassistance works with a trigger that the elderly person wears on them, on their wrist or as a necklace. Thanks to this and a transmitter placed at their home, the senior can then alert an operator when they need help. In return, the operator can either call a relative of the senior to come to their assistance or contact emergency services.

• Human Means

Human support is essential in the home care of elderly people, as it provides not only real human assistance but also helps avoid loneliness and social isolation.

The most common human resource for home care is professional home care assistance. This is a person responsible for assisting seniors with daily activities for which they have difficulties: eating, bathing, mobility… Known as a life assistant, this person has training and qualifications to best assist elderly people.

It is also possible to hire a housekeeper who will be responsible for all maintenance tasks in the senior’s home: cleaning, laundry, dishwashing, ironing, and sometimes even cooking. Some aides, such as companions, although they do not provide medical assistance to the elderly person, can be considered a human means of home care. Indeed, they are responsible for breaking the senior’s solitude by keeping them company, talking with them…

Assistance for Home Care

Assistance programs have been established by the State to allow elderly people to remain at home and live as comfortably as possible.

• Tax Assistance for Home Care

This is a 50% tax credit that elderly people can benefit from when using the services of a home care assistant. In practice, it will be valid if the latter is assisted by a life assistant or a housekeeper.

• Housing Assistance

The housing assistance mentioned here comes from the national housing development agency (ANAH), and is intended to give seniors the opportunity to adapt their housing to their situation. The agency then provides a tax credit of 25% for these modification works. The amount allocated is capped at 5,000 euros for individuals living alone, and 10,000 euros for couples.

It also grants assistance for modification works such as the installation of a stairlift, the installation of automated shutters… Their amount ranges from 7,000 to 10,000 euros.

• Assistance for Seniors with Loss of Autonomy

There are many aids for seniors experiencing loss of autonomy. Among them, we can mention the Personalized Autonomy Allowance (APA) provided by the Departmental Council to cover all kinds of expenses: provision of hygiene or food products, home care assistance…

The Social Security also offers the solidarity allowance for the elderly (ASPA) to help seniors with low resources.

Finally, retirement funds and mutual insurance companies provide assistance similar to the APA for seniors whose loss of autonomy is not considered severe.

Getting Information on Mutual Insurance Offers

As a caregiver, it is important to be informed about all the aids and offers that exist, as it is true that medical appointments can sometimes be costly. Knowing about mutual insurance offers ensures a follow-up of care as smoothly as possible.

A mutual insurance, or complementary health insurance, complements basic guarantees. It partially or fully covers acts not reimbursed by Health Insurance and those that are reimbursed very little, to ensure more optimal coverage.

The Psychological Benefits of Home Care

Keeping elderly people at home is not limited to just the physical aspects of daily life. The psychological benefits are equally important. By staying at home, seniors can maintain a sense of control over their lives, which is crucial for their mental well-being.

• Preservation of Identity: Staying in a familiar environment helps elderly people maintain their identity and memories.
• Reduction of Anxiety: Changing environments, such as entering a nursing home, can cause stress and anxiety. Home is often associated with positive memories.
• Social Interactions: Being surrounded by loved ones and friends fosters social interactions, which are essential for combating loneliness and depression.

Outdoor Modifications for Secure Home Care

In addition to indoor modifications, it is also essential to consider the outside of the house to ensure the safety of elderly people. Here are some recommendations:

• Secure Access: Install access ramps and non-slip paths to facilitate movement.
• Adequate Lighting: Ensure good lighting around the house to prevent falls at night.
• Green Spaces: Creating an accessible garden can provide a space for relaxation and exercise, beneficial for mental and physical health.

Innovations in Home Automation for Seniors

Technology is evolving rapidly and today offers innovative solutions for home care for elderly people. Home automation can play a key role in empowering seniors.

• Alert Systems: Motion sensors can alert relatives in case of unusual activity.
• Remote Control: Household appliances can be controlled remotely, allowing seniors to manage their environment easily.
• Voice Assistants: These devices can help seniors remember their medications, make calls, or schedule appointments.

Community Resources for Elderly People

It is also essential to know the community resources available to support home care for elderly people. These resources can provide valuable assistance.

• Activity Centers for Seniors: These centers offer social activities, classes, and events to keep seniors active and engaged.
• Transportation Services: Adapted transportation services can help seniors get to medical appointments or social activities.
• Support Groups: Joining support groups can provide a space to share experiences and receive advice.