by Priscilla Benfield

Created on: June 01, 2010   Last Updated: July 16, 2010

Most older Americans would prefer to stay in their own homes versus moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home. Who could blame them?

You work your entire life looking forward to the day that you can retire and enjoy the home that you worked so hard for. Just because you are aging and perhaps facing some medical challenges, why do you have to give up the lifestyle that you worked all your adult life for?

Some older people are very stubborn and have difficulty admitting that they are unable to live alone without some kind of assistance.When your aging relative becomes unable to manage their own care, a home health care worker might be the solution.

There are considerations to contemplate when making this decision. A home health care worker can be costly. If finances have not been set aside for this kind of care, it may not be an option. An alternative is to hire a home health care part time and having family members take turns helping out.

Much depends upon what kind of care is needed. If there is a danger of the person falling, doing home alterations can help to make the living space safer.

If the person needs help in order to get around, a home health care worker can be there to help out with tasks like bathing, cooking and doing light household chores. A home health care worker can also help to keep them active by taking them out and maybe even driving them to doctor appointments.

Not every older person needs to go into a nursing home. If familys planned ahead for the "just in case" scenarios that can happen with elderly people, the final years of their lives may be easier on everyone involved.

Many people who have older parents still need to work full time jobs and raise their families. Taking on the responsibility for the care of an elderly parent is not always feasible. Although we want to be able to take care of our parents, life can get in the way.

A home health care worker is trained to give the assistance that we are unable to give. The elderly person gets to remain in their home and although sometimes they may deny that they need help, they need to be forced into accepting it.

When an elderly person has a home health care worker, they are still able to maintain family relationships because they are in their own home and it is more convenient for family to be part of their lives. It is an option that can work for many people as long as their health remains good enough that they do not need more time-consuming care.

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