Preparing for Home Care, Pt. 2

This is the second part of a two part series about home care for seniors. Learn more about if home care is the right choice for your aging loved one in "Preparing for home Care, Pt. 1."

The Secure Aging team interviewed Jonathan Marsh, owner of Home Helpers of Bradenton, FL, about his experience in home care. Home Helpers of Bradenton, FL provides Senior Home Care Services to the Bradenton, FL and greater Manatee County community.  Thanks for your time, Jonathan!

SA: Why did you decide to open Home Helpers of Bradenton?

JM: For sixteen years, I worked in corporate America as a consultant that assisted in streamlining business processes.  One of the outcomes of that work was layoffs at my clients.  After a number of years of contributing to the successes of large corporations yet seeing the jobs of their workers become obsolete, I sought to do something that was more emotional rewarding and help everyday people.

Following in the steps of my father, I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur.  After about six years of searching for a business that I could be passionate about, I had a conversation with a friend about home care for her loved one.  That conversation reminded me of the challenges that my cousin had when caring for my grandmother that had not only an impact on the two of them, but also our entire family.  Having home care in place would have allowed my grandmother the opportunity to enjoy the last couple years of her life, allowed my cousin to be the single 30-something person she wanted to be, and made life easier for the entire family.  Relationships within our family were greatly impacted due to the stress surrounding the care for my grandmother.

 

SA: What were some of the main problems your grandmother was having that you wanted to solve?

JM: My grandmother lived in Montgomery, AL.  For much of her life, she had plenty of family there.  However, as the years went on, every member of the family there had passed away or had moved out of the city.  Therefore, grandmother lived in Montgomery alone without family for a number of years, relying a good bit on friends and fellow parishioners to help as much as possible.

Home care would have made her life easier by providing companionship, meal preparation, keeping the house tidy, transportation to church and doctor’s appointments, and assistance with bathing and hygiene.

SA: What are the benefits of keeping seniors in their homes versus a care facility?

JM: There are certainly pros and cons for home care versus facilities.  I encourage anyone that is looking for care for themselves or for a loved one to really weigh these options to determine that best solution for their situation.

Three of the many benefits of home care are staying at home, controlling your independence, and cost-effectiveness.

* Staying at home: According to AARP, 87 percent of adults age 65+ would prefer to stay in their current home and community as they age.  We are able to assist with achieving this goal.

* Controlling your independence: Contrary to what some may think, home care actually allows an individual to control their independence.  Instead of working around a family member or friend’s schedule, an individual receiving home care services can determine when services are provided.  For many of our clients, this is especially important as it relates to transportation to appointments.

* Cost-effectiveness: In general, home care is a less expensive option than a facility.  The client can receive care based on their budget by controlling the number of hours of care they receive.

 

SA: Can you share a positive memory from your experience with Home Helpers?

JM: In early 2016, we had a consultation with a potential client that was unaware that our RN and I were coming. The children of the family were there, all there to ensure that the potential client (who was resistant to care) received services ASAP.  After many tears were shed, the client agreed to services. Knowing that the client was reluctantly accepting care, we knew we had to find the perfect caregiver....and we did. Very quickly the client realized the benefits of home care and truly enjoyed the time spent with our caregiver.

 

Secure Aging hopes you find the best in home care for your loved one. Make sure this is the best decision for a happy and healthy life by keeping in mind all four wellderly techniques (financial, mental, physical and emotional). Read more about leading a wellderly life with our blog "What Does it Mean to be Wellderly."

We can help make life easier by tracking monthly income and expenses, as well as fully advocating for our clients’ well-being and safety. We are here to help make your life easier and keep your loved ones safe.

Reba Rogers, CPA, is the founder of Secure Aging, a group of care managers who preserve the independence and protect the assets of seniors by helping them with financial management. She is also a Director Consultant for BNI (Business Network International), a referral marketing organization which gives her access to many trusted business professionals in the community.

 

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