Personal Care Agencies are Available to Meet a Critical Need

Article submitted by Kevin Whatcott, owner of Homewatch CareGivers in Utah. He is an attorney and Certified Senior Advisor. He can be reached at 801-746-1080.

Whether to place your loved ones in a facility or leave them their home is a difficult decision. Where do seniors want to live? A recent AARP study indicates that 83% of those over 65 would like to stay in their current residences for as long as possible.

Yet, as seniors age, to stay at home becomes increasingly difficult for the senior and the senior's adult children. At least half of the 85+ age group need some type of assistance with their activities of daily living. Providing that care comes at a cost. Sixty-two percent of caregivers, generally adult children, have found that caregiving has affected their jobs, ranging from reporting late for work to giving up work entirely. In one study, 40% of caregivers reported that they lost an average of 17 days per year without pay to care for a disabled elder.

According to an AARP/Met Life Study in 1997, the number of Americans struggling with this issue is growing: 54 million Americans are caregivers to an elderly parent or relative; 64% of caregivers are employed; 15 million workdays are missed annually because of elder caregiving; and employers lost $12-29 billion as a direct result.

The solution to the problem is home care through a licensed personal care agency. Personal care agencies provide a range of services, from respite care to 24-hour live-in assistance. They provide skilled caregivers who have been screened and are bonded and insured. In choosing a personal care agency, it is critical to look for a track record in providing quality care. Ask questions. Are they available 24/7 in an emergency? Are backup caregivers available? Are caregivers supervised by a nurse? Can they provide live-in assistance?

What both seniors and their adult children want is quality time together. Seniors don't want to burden their children with caregiving responsibilities. A licensed personal care agency can help seniors with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, medication reminders, and all other activities of daily living. Taking the chores out of caregiving for adult children gives seniors what they need the most: time with their children.