Like many other developed Western nations, Australia’s population is ageing, largely due to a higher life expectancy from lifestyle improvements and developments in modern medicine. In fact, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over the past two decades the number of people aged 100 years and over in Australia has increased by 271 per cent! Rather than moving to an aged care facility, a vast majority of senior citizens prefer to live in the home they know. While the independence of living at home can be beneficial for mental health, here is some at home help for the elderly:
Scheduling Companionship on a Regular Basis
As we get older and less mobile, our ability to travel around and join in with community activities can become increasingly difficult. As a result, the senior community is particularly vulnerable to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. One way to help prevent this is to sit down with your elderly relative to discuss what interests they would like to pursue or goals they would like to achieve in their senior years – such as volunteering or perhaps starting a new hobby. This can help to build a sense of purpose and encourage them to interact with their community.
Alternatively, if your loved one is reluctant to leave the house you can try Home Care Heroes. Home Care Heroes is passionate about ending social isolation and loneliness in the community. We match Heroes with Members based on shared interests to foster genuine companionship.
Checking Household Safety
Remove any tripping hazards such as loose carpets, stray electrical cords or rugs that don’t lie flat. It is also a good idea to ensure the house is well lit including nightlights, that there are no faulty kitchen appliances and no unsteady furniture around. Take care to make sure floors aren’t slippery, and test smoke alarms regularly.
Maintaining Good Health
Injury and illness are the biggest risk factors for the elderly living at home alone. Therefore it is essential for seniors to stay as healthy as possible by developing and maintaining a healthy diet, keeping physically active with regular exercise, drinking plenty of water and engaging in an active social life. Address any health issues that can impact confidence such as incontinence, hearing problems and vision problems, and make transport readily available.
Access to Flexible, Reliable Assistance You Can Trust
Like many Australians, if you have work or young family commitments and are in need of someone to keep an eye on your elderly family living at home, Home Care Heroes can help. We offer an affordable aged care alternative for families with elderly relatives living at home who are seeking companionship and non-medical care services. Our fully-vetted Heroes visit private residences and residential care facilities throughout the wider Sydney region, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast New South Wales. We provide a wide range of support to ageing community members such as providing companionship, transport to appointments, meal preparation and light housekeeping. Home Care Heroes matches our Members with Heroes in their local area based on shared interests and requirements, so you can choose someone who is the right fit for your specific needs.
Prior to joining our community, every Hero goes through a rigorous vetting and onboarding process to ensure they meet our standards, including; An online values test, a face-to-face interview, an onboarding session, reference checks and police checks. Home Care Heroes has a competitive flat rate of $40 per hour, including weekends and public holidays. There is no need for pre-payment, no lock-in fees and no-subscription fees. You only pay for the time you actually spend with the Hero, and payment is only made after the booking is complete. There are no added fees, not even fees for credit card transactions!
Sign up to become a Member and post a mission today, to experience for yourself why we have over sixty 5-star ratings on Google reviews.