Beyond Task Management Care to Quality Companion Care
How Visiting Angels of Hot Springs, AR helps seniors thrive with in-home companion care
Assisting an aging loved one requires time, energy, and patience. As time passes, a senior’s needs change. Hearing loss, mobility limitations, memory loss, grooming assistance, and more become increasingly challenging. As you focus on each of these tasks to help your senior loved one, you must also consider their emotional wellbeing.
Seniors require more than task management care to live a happy and fulfilling life. Studies show that emotional connection is equally as crucial for a senior to thrive.
Defining Task Management Care
Care that meets a senior’s basic needs is task management care. Typically hospitals and nursing facilities concentrate on these types of benchmarks for wellbeing simply because they are quantifiable. A goal is set, and once it is achieved, care is complete. For example, when seniors can walk a few steps unassisted, they may be released from hospital care. Perhaps physical therapy is required, and once a senior has mastered the use of a walker or cane, the goal is complete. Physical, functional needs are met. While this is important, it is only part of the picture. Having basic needs and services met does not necessarily increase the quality of life, particularly when emotional needs are neglected.
Seniors crave companionship and need this to remain healthy in mind and body. While a nursing home environment offers this to some extent, the high turnover rate among staff and residents can be disorienting and overwhelming. Most seniors prefer to live in the comfort of their homes for as long as possible. This situation also has its challenges since a senior may feel isolated frequently, even when friends and family members try to spend as much time as possible visiting and assisting with tasks.
The Benefits of Companion Care
In-home companion care ensures that a senior’s basic physical and functional needs are met, with the addition of satisfying emotional needs through companionship. A senior caregiver helps with tasks such as bathing, grooming, bathroom needs, meal preparation, and more and provides much-needed interpersonal communication. This vital aspect of a healthy lifestyle is too often overlooked. The National Institutes of Health cites multiple studies which stress the adverse effects of social isolation in seniors, which include:
- Increased risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
- Increased risk of elevated blood pressure
- Increased risk of some forms of cancer
- Increased risk of morbidity and mortality
Seniors benefit significantly mentally and physically from the consistency and attention quality companion care provides.
How Visiting Angels of Hot Springs Can Help
Our experienced professional caregivers offer more than task management for our senior clients. We carefully match our caregivers with each senior, taking personality and specific needs into account to form a strong bond between them. Unlike nursing facilities, we offer our clients the chance to age gracefully in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. Although living at home, seniors are far from isolated because our outstanding companion care ensures that engagement within the community and a life of purpose is part of the overall goal.
With the help of a professional caregiver, a senior can thrive mentally and physically by safely participating in various activities. Companion care helps families relax, knowing their senior loved one is living a fulfilling and secure lifestyle. Suddenly the overwhelming tasks of daily care are well-managed and loved ones can spend more quality time together without stressing over basic needs or safety. We help seniors live their best lives in the homes they cherish.
If you’re interested in learning more about our comprehensive in-home companion care, contact Visiting Angels of Hot Springs, AR today by calling 501-222-3493.
