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Home, sweet home: it’s the place where the majority of our loved ones prefer to stay as they age, and many of them do. It is quite obvious that the popularity of home care services continues to grow during the last two decades but still, there are many misconceptions and myths about what home care services entail and how home care helps you or your aging family members. If you have a senior family member at home to look after who wants to stay at home but needs help with activities of daily life then, it is worth considering the help of a home care agency. Let’s investigate some of the common myths about In-Home care for the elderly – and the realities:

1. It’s too expensive:

Most people assume that in-home services are too expensive, but this isn’t the case. Home care services are more affordable than any other form of senior living because it is dependent on the number of hours the attendant or a professional caregiver spends with the senior. Also, the cost is dependent on the types of services the caregiver provides. According to an estimate, about 22% of people use home care services for less than four hours a week. There are various types of services under home care that you might opt for your loved ones ranging from personal care to homemaking, respite care to overnight attendant service, and 24-hour live-in, etc.

2. Home Care is only for the Elderly:

Another common misconception about home care services is that it is only for older adults which is not true. Home caregivers can assist you in several ways like helping your loved ones in their activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living, etc. Home care professionals can also assist you when you have just given birth to a baby, receive any surgery, or getting any type of medical treatment. So, the myth that it is well-suited for seniors is wrong.

3. I am here, there is no need for additional help:

This is the truth that home care is not a replacement for family caregivers. Caregiving for your aging loved ones sometimes can be physically and emotionally draining or even, overwhelming. Getting help from a professional caregiving agency may give breaks to your primary family caregivers and helps them focus on their other tasks too.

4. Caregivers aren’t trustworthy:

Some people avoid using home care services because they believe that caregivers are not trustworthy. We may have heard about the caregivers abusing their patients or stealing from them but these caregivers are usually independent, unskilled, and not hired through a professional home care agency. Letting a stranger in your home may feel unnerving at first, but in-home care providers will try their best to match seniors with caregivers having similar interests and personalities. These caregivers are hired and employed after thorough evaluation, and screening by professional caregiving agencies. You and your loved ones deserve a right to ask a home care agency for a replacement if the caregiver’s services are not up to the mark.

5. Fear of losing independence:

Hiring a home caregiver doesn’t necessarily mean losing your independence. A home caregiver can help in maintaining your loved one’s freedom by helping them in their daily tasks such as cleaning up the house, bathing, and getting dressed up. Caregivers can partner with the seniors, engage them in healthy conversations and push them to involve physical activities as and when needed.

6. It doesn’t meet long-term needs:

Many people think that home care is a temporary option before you chose a permanent one such as a nursing home, etc. but if you are lucky enough to find the right attendant or agency for your loved one then this can be a permanent solution. The main reason why people think it’s a temporary service is because of the medical care part. Some caregivers are also trained to give basic medical treatment such as wound care, and injections, etc. If the attendant you have chosen is not providing the services as expected by you, you always have a right to contact the agency and ask for a replacement.

7. In-Home caregiving services are the same:

These services are not the same. These can be divided into three categories, independent caregivers, independent contractors with a registry, and a caregiving agency. The caregiving agency hired and employed caregivers after screening and background testing. These agencies are bonded, liable, and insured and take full responsibility as an employer. You pay the agency, not the caregiver. The role of an agency is to manage contractual obligations and performance issues of employees.

Independent caregivers or private caregivers are directly hired by the individual or their senior loved ones. You take on the responsibility of becoming an employer if you chose to hire independent caregivers. Among all the three options, going for an agency option would be best.

Home care services are life-changing for many people. As long as people need personalized, customized services, the demand for home care services will continue to grow. But for that, we may need to bust all the myths and misconceptions that surround home care.