As people enter their golden years, both their priorities and their needs undergo radical changes. Even in highly developed societies, many aging adults are still worried about their most basic needs. Following are several of the top issues elderly people must contend with.
Rising Cost of Living
Many seniors are finding their retirement funds aren’t going as far as they expected them to. In addition to rising inflation and a decrease in the value of the money they’ve socked away, seniors are also enjoying longer lives. These additional years are often fraught with health concerns and the need for more comprehensive and often costly health care.
In Waterloo, home care service agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Social Engagement
In the senior years, the ability to maintain a robust social life is often challenged by the loss of driving privileges, chronic illness, and the decreasing health of close friends. Aging adults have to work hard to establish and maintain social networks. These efforts are essential for preserving their social skills and cognitive fitness and avoiding isolation.
For families living in Waterloo, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Prescription Costs
As seniors are prescribed new medications and increasingly seek access to prescriptions that may not be fully or even partially covered by their primary health care plans, finding affordable ways to maintain their dosing schedules can be difficult. Some seniors have attempted to use web-based pharmacies to cut their prescription costs, while others have found the use of generic products to be a much cheaper and safer solution. Managing prescription costs along with rising co-payments and the frequent need for in-office treatment is a very common concern among elderly people.
Additional Care Needs
One of the greatest living expenses seniors must concern themselves with is housing, especially as changes in cognitive functioning and mobility challenge their plans to live on their own. More aging adults are opting to age in place as long as they possibly can, but this also means finding affordable assistance when they can no longer accomplish all their daily responsibilities on their own. Some seniors opt to downsize their homes to increase their savings or use primary residences as rental properties for extra income.
Home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently. To create a customized care plan for your loved one, call Home Care Assistance today at (519) 954-2111 today.