What services are available to the elderly?

As we grow older, independent living becomes more and more difficult. Yet, even when faced with severe physical and/or cognitive decline, most seniors express a desire to continue living at home. To do so, many require aging in place services, such as meal delivery, transportation, and home care services.

If you have a loved one who wishes to age in place, but requires assistance to do so, aging in place services can help. Below are six types of services that could help your loved one maintain his or her independence.

6 Types of Aging in Place Services

1. Home Meal Delivery. Meals on Wheels and similar programs are perhaps the most popular aging in place service for elderly adults. Nutrition can be challenging for seniors, many of whom have trouble planning meals, shopping for groceries, or preparing healthy foods for themselves. That can lead to malnourishment.

Meals on Wheels programs solve this issue by delivering pre-cooked meals to seniors’ front doors. In doing so, they make day-to-day life much easier for seniors. They also ensure that seniors receive the nutrition they need for healthy aging.

2. Senior Transportation. Waning strength, eyesight, and hand-eye coordination are common side effects of aging. At a certain point, these issues can make driving dangerous or simply impossible. Without a reliable source of transportation, seniors may find aging in place impossible.

Senior transportation services can address this problem, giving seniors the ability to run errands, visit friends and family, and attend important appointments. Many local governments operate low-cost transportation services for seniors. If you’re looking for more private or convenient transportation, this can be booked through private companies.

3. Elderly Errand Services. Elderly errand services are another popular type of aging in place services. Chronic health conditions can make it difficult for seniors to perform routine errands, like trips to the post office, shopping for household items, or picking up important prescriptions. When unable to perform these kinds of errands, seniors struggle to live independently.

Elderly errand services give seniors an easy way to complete these errands without leaving home. This makes it much easier for seniors to age in place despite limited mobility, lack of reliable transportation, and other age-related concerns that make errands difficult.

4. Companion Care. Aging in place services like meal delivery, transportation, and errand services can help seniors maintain their independence. But without some form of in-home assistance, these services may not be enough to keep elderly adults at home.

When seniors need a helping hand for tasks around the home, companion care services are a perfect fit. Companion care providers can perform light housekeeping tasks, assist with day-to-day activities, and provide valuable companionship.

Companion care also reduces the need for other aging in place services. Caregivers can plan meals, shop for groceries, and prepare nutritious food for seniors. Many companion care agencies also help with running errands, including medication pickups.

5. Personal/Private Duty Care. Companion care is an ideal aging in place service for seniors who have mild to moderate difficulty with independent living. However, in more serious cases of physical decline, companion care may not be sufficient.

When seniors need assistance with tasks of daily living (like dressing, bathing, or toileting), personal care services are a better fit. Personal caregivers have advanced skills, experience, and/or certifications which allow them to assist seniors with these kinds of tasks.

Personal care, which is also sometimes called private duty care, can be a lifeline for seniors who wish to age in place. Without the help of a professional caregiver, many of these seniors would need to move into assisted living or nursing facilities. With personal care, they can spend their golden years in a safe, comfortable, and familiar space.

6. Specialized Home Care. In certain cases, elderly adults require specialized aging in place services for specific lifestyle needs or health conditions. For example, seniors who are coping with Alzheimer’s disease will require specialized assistance, beyond what they’d receive from a personal care provider.

At Visiting Angels®, we make it easy for seniors to find the care they need through our Life Care Navigation collection of senior care programs. In addition to Alzheimer’s and dementia care, these programs include specialized care for fall prevention, technology assistance, and transitional care for seniors who’ve recently been discharged from the hospital.

Through Life Care Navigation, we make it easier for seniors to find specialized aging in place services. Just as importantly, we customize our services for every client, so that you can combine multiple services into a personalized care plan.

Looking for aging in place services near you? Contact your local Visiting Angels office today for more info about our services and request a free in-home consultation.

If you're interested in our compassionate home care services for you or a loved one, contact your nearest Visiting Angels home care agency today or call 800-365-4189.

What is the most requested support service for elderly?

What do the elderly need most?

What services are available for older Australians?

What are the two different types of care for the elderly?