We often hear from concerned sons and daughters that their parents might be ready for some at-home assistance, but they’re not sure. Sometimes the kids are hesitant to suggest the idea to parents, and sometimes parents aren’t keen on accepting care.

It can be hard to know when is the right time to suggest care. To offer some assistance, consider this sample profile of a TMH client. Not every client will look like this, certainly, but this is one good example of the type of people who can benefit from at-home care.

Mom and dad are both in their 80s, living in a small, one-floor home in Birch Bay. They have two children, but neither lives close enough to provide regular assistance. The daughter lives in Seattle, and the son lives in Sedro-Woolley. Both of them are married with children, and their days are full and busy.

Dad still drives, which has been helpful for making the extra doctor’s appointments lately that have arisen from mom’s advancing dementia. He has gotten into a couple minor fender-benders in the last couple of months, though, and that’s beginning to be a worrisome trend. Some family members have questioned whether dad should still be driving. He already has stopped driving at night, because it can be so hard to see, and that has placed a few limitations on he and mom. For example, they don’t go out to bingo nights or dance events at the senior center any more, and those used to be beloved hobbies.

Even without going to dances, the couple is still pretty active. They try to walk every day. Dad had a fall last week, though — slipped on a stray magazine in the living room — and that left him with some painful bruises on his right hip. Nothing is broken, thankfully, but the experience reminded him that getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be.

There’s a small grocery store about four blocks from their house, but they’re not walking there as much anymore, and even less so with dad’s fall. They could probably use a few groceries to stock up the fridge and pantry.

This couple is the perfect candidate for two or three half-day shifts per week. They’re pretty active and healthy, and they’re far from needing 24-hour care. However, they would really benefit from assistance getting to the doctor’s office and help with the weekly grocery shopping. They could use someone to tidy up the house once a week and ensure that everything is in its proper place. They could also use some help communicating with doctors and ensuring that medicines are taken on time, and it would be good to have someone around to monitor mom. (Her dementia isn’t far along, but it would be good to have someone checking in on her now and again and looking at how it’s affecting dad, too.)

The 12-hour shifts would take a lot of pressure off of dad and would allow the couple to relax a bit, worrying less about the details and spending more time enjoying each other’s company.

Does any of this sound familiar? If so, perhaps your mom or dad — or someone else in your life — could benefit from having a licensed caregiver helping out on half-day shifts. Just give us a call and we can talk about your options.

When choosing the type of care to provide for your aging loved ones, one of the biggest considerations, inevitably, is cost.

This is one of the many areas in which at-home care shines. Depending on the amount of care needed, at-home care can be a less expensive option than full-time residence in a long-term care or assisted-living facility — all while providing one-on-one, personal care and attention in the beloved environment of home.

However, cost is far from the only consideration. Your loved ones have worked hard their entire lives to support their families and provide for their future; now it’s time to focus on what’s best for them.

Whether they need just a little assistance now and again, or whether they need full-time care, life at home with a personal caregiver can provide your loved ones with the comfort, quality and ease of life they deserve.

Personal care and attention: When it comes to the retirement years, it’s hard to beat the personal care provided by a companion caregiver. Beginning with an in-home consultation and continuing through customized schedules and personalized care plans, every detail is tailored specifically for each person with whom we work.

The comfort of home: Not only do loved ones get a personal caregiver, but they get it in the familiar surroundings of home. At home, everything from the pictures on the walls to the layout of the furniture is comfortable and inviting. This can be particularly great for those seniors with dementia, but everyone can benefit from growing older in a place that’s well-known and familiar.

Less travel: Especially for those elderly who have mobility issues, in-home care can provide wonderful benefits. Caregivers can assist with medication monitoring, household errands, grocery shopping, light housekeeping and more. When doctor visits are necessary, at-home caregivers can provide accompaniment and even share necessary info with loved ones after the visit.

Family visits: At home, there are no visiting hours, quiet times or roommates to contend with. Loved ones can visit whenever is convenient. Plus, those who want to help out can do so at a time and location that’s best for everyone.

More independence: At home, comfortable surroundings can lead to a greater degree of confidence. You know where things are, how they work and how to use them. Additionally, at home, the homeowner is in charge of decision-making.

Take My Hand At-Home Care provides companion care services to senior citizens in Lynden, Bellingham, Ferndale, Blaine, Everson, Nooksack, Sumas, Birch Bay and throughout Whatcom County.

For help ensuring that your loved ones get the lives they deserve in their older years, contact Take My Hand.