How do I know if home care is right for me?

In-home support can be beneficial for aging adults, people recovering from illness or surgery, and those with disabilities. Home care is one of the available options for families to receive services that are best for themselves or their loved ones.  

However, how do I know if home care is right for me? 

When someone grows older, it is natural that they prefer to stay at home. However, deciding in the long-term situation, whether staying at home or not requires time and commitment. Sometimes, staying at home can be uncontrollable in terms of an emergency or an unexpected incident. Therefore, it is essential to make judgments based on multiple factors such as budgets, living conditions, or health conditions to decide if home care is right for you or your loved ones.  

Everyone's home situation and condition are unique. Factors to determine the best choice for you can be weighted differently depending on your needs and preferences. Here are several considerations to evaluate your decisions: 

• ​Finances
  • ​Deciding to request home care services requires making a budget with anticipated expenses. Extensive home care services can become expensive rapidly depending on the levels of care needed and the complexity of the health conditions. You may ask yourself a question, "can you afford to stay at your own home?"
• Location and accessibility
  • ​This involves the transportation issue. The location of your home, whether it is in a rural, suburban, or urban area, can determine if you may require lots of driving. On the other hand, if you are living in an area where there are options in public transportation such as buses, or streetcars, will it safe or easily accessible for seniors or people with disabilities?
• Home accessibility and maintenance 
  • ​Home accessibility and maintenance are essential for seniors in terms of their physical abilities to move around safely and independently. There are several factors related to the house's structure that should be evaluated. Does it have stairs that are senior-safe, or can it easily be modified to be suitable for physical restrictions? 
• Proximity to your family members or friends
  • ​In some situations, having your family members or friends living nearby allows you to receive a network of support. However, this is not always the case. Several issues are raised, such as their levels of involvement or their ability to support you. When your needs increase, your family members or friends might not be able to satisfy all of the requirements of providing proper health care.  
• Medical conditions
  • ​This can be considered as one of the most crucial factors to consider if home care is right for you. If you or a loved one are suffering from chronic medical conditions that can worsen over time, it is crucial to consider ways and methods to deal with mobility and health problems. You need to consider if you can handle common complications of your health conditions independently or require constant assistance.

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Determining if home care is right for you may take some time as you may prefer taking care of yourself or being supported by family members. However, circumstances may change, and it is vital to be aware of the home care services available in Ontario that might be able to provide help and release the burden. Depending on your health conditions, your financial situations, and the level of support you have, it may help to know if home care is right for you.  

Reference:  
https://healthyathomeseniorcare.com/home-care-right/ 
https://www.comfortlife.ca/home-care/home-care-toronto

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​Helpers - On-Demand Home Care

Helpers is a service that helps you request on-demand home care with flexibility and convenience from qualified helpers. Our services are designed to make your life as easy as possible. Our team combines our passion for better healthcare with a depth of experience in senior care, home care, and technology.

Helpers was formed around a mission to create a more sustainable approach to support Canada's aging population. We understand that great care starts with great people, and that is why we are committed to helping our clients and our workers get more of what they want! We must help seniors maintain their independence while ensuring families and loved ones get the trusted help they need. 

Through our app, our clients can select non-medical home care services they need and request them on-demand, paying only what they need and when they need it. Our services include personal care, mobility assist, medication reminder, and driving companion – all will be billed by the service instead of by the hour.

​If you're interested in more information about how Helpers can help your elderly loved ones, contact us or call  289-768-9616.  ​ 

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