When you live in a small, remote town and have done so your entire life, the process of aging can be especially worrisome. After all, small towns have many charms, but sometimes the healthcare options can seem to be somewhat lacking. Just because you are a senior in a small town does not mean that you are devoid of care options, though. Get to know some of the senior care options that may be available to you in your small town area. Then, you can best decide which option best suits you and your care and health needs.
Home Companionship Services
Senior care comes in many shapes and forms and sometimes what you need is basic help around the house and a little companionship. These types of services may be much more readily available in your small town than you may even realize. If you are a member of a local church or other town organization, you may want to put the idea out there among other members that you are looking for some help around the house and someone to spend a few hours a day or a week with you. Chances are that someone in the church or organization will be interested or will know someone who would be interested in helping you out.
There are also home companionship services that are usually based out of mid-sized to larger cities that can serve the more rural, small town areas around them. These services employ home caregivers that are willing to commute to other towns to provide services. This would be a great option if you are looking for 24-hour companionship care and assistance or you want someone to be there when you wake up until when you go to bed. Oftentimes, if there is a significant commute involved, short shifts of a few hours are not offered by these organizations.
Home Healthcare Services
If your care needs are more extensive than just basic housework help and companionship, then you may be looking for home healthcare services provided by a professional CNA (certified nursing assistant) or nurse. Some small towns have access to such services in the same way that they have to home companionship services from nearby mid-sized or large cities.
However, if this is not the case in your small town, you may want to find out if there are any nurses in town that are retired or working independently as a home care provider. You may be surprised to find someone with medical training who would work with you on your home health care needs. Another option would be to place an ad in the classified and online in nearby cities for a live-in home health care provider. Having a live-in caregiver means that you have access to all of the assistance and care you will need 24 hours a day and you do not have to worry about them needing to commute or not showing up for shifts.
Keeping these options in mind, you can begin to explore the senior care options in your small town and find an arrangement that works best for you and your unique care needs.
Share15 December 2016
In the past, when I thought about home health care, I pictured an elderly man or woman stuck in bed just waiting to take his or her final breath. What I have recently learned is that there are people of all ages that can benefit from home health care specialists. When my niece was diagnosed with a rare liver disorder, our family rallied and did everything possible to make the new way of life as easy for my sister as possible. We spent hours over at her house helping with the baby, but then, my sister said she didn't need us as much --She had hired a home care aid. I hope this helps you in the future.
