How do I know if long-term in-home care is an appropriate option for my loved one?

Long-term in-home care is an appropriate option for most individuals on the aging journey. Supportive in-home care is a great alternative or supplement to traditional solutions like assisted living and nursing homes. No matter where someone calls home, Home Instead strives to create a supportive, deeply personal, evolving care experience. Our plans of care are designed to change over time, as one’s needs change, to ensure we are always providing the right support – even providing support alongside hospice if and when that time comes.

Toby Barnes
General Manager

Seeking information from a trustworthy source is crucial in any health care need, especially when people are often misinformed about what support home care actually entails. Home Instead General Manager Toby Barnes says many health care professionals confuse supportive home care with traditional home health services that offer limited, temporary support only as it relates to an acute injury or illness. “Unfortunately, home health services are often not comprehensive enough to meet the ongoing daily needs of those on the aging journey,” he says. “Assistance with activities of daily living can help address many aspects of aging that home health services cannot, allowing the individual to age where they feel most comfortable.” Regardless of age or health status, clients should know that it is never too early to consider how they want to craft their vision of aging before a crisis arises. After witnessing the aging process in his grandparents and the struggles his family had with managing their care, Barnes knew he wanted to act as an advocate for individuals who need support in the aging journey. Oftentimes, family and friends are relied on for assistance with aging individuals, putting extra stress on those relationships. “The unspoken reality is that caregiving is an extremely time-consuming, stressful and difficult task for families to manage,” Barnes says. “Helping seniors and their loved ones minimize their stress and enjoy life is the most rewarding aspect of my profession.”