For each of us, there comes a time when our parents grow too old to really care for themselves. They may not be ill, but, as they mature, they become physically frail or begin to forget things that the rest of us take for granted. If you could, you would be happy to look after your elder parent personally, but, by this point, you have your own family and your own responsibilities that take up a good portion of your time. That’s why there are services to help, while allowing your elder parent to remain in his or her own home.

An Alternative to Nursing Homes

While a nursing home or some other type of assisted-living facility is certainly one option for your elder parent, that would take him or her out of their home. In many cases, an elder can become depressed and withdrawn upon feeling forced out of their home to live in a facility. Even though this means having someone around to look after them, they don’t really want to leave their homes.

That’s where home elder car services come in, providing a better alternative to the nursing home choice. A home care assistant can look after your elder parent at times when you’re unable to be there. The assistant isn’t a medically-trained professional, but someone experienced in providing companionship and non-technical assistance to your elder parent. This helps to ensure your parent is caring for himself or herself. The aide is there to help the elder with tasks, especially those that might cause the elder to have an accident and become injured.

What Exactly Do Non-Medical Home Care Aides Do?

An at-home companion helps the elder with basic care practices, such as bathing and clothing themselves. Sometimes, elders forget basic hygiene or are too weak to manage by themselves, so the home care aide helps them prepare for the day. They will also help prepare meals and make sure the elder is taking all of their medication on time to prevent missed doses.

When they’re not directly helping the elder, the home care assistant may be cleaning the home, helping with laundry and doing dishes, or provide other similar basic services. When there are errands to run, the assistant will also help the elder get around, providing transportation to appointments and to pick up groceries.

Overall, the most important duty of the non-medical home care professional is to provide companionship. This helps to make sure the elder stays in a good frame of mind and doesn’t feel abandoned, when the rest of the family has other obligations.