Mildred was an outgoing person. If anybody could exemplify an extrovert, it was Mildred. She was the type of person who was always out around the neighborhood, saying hello to neighbors, getting to meet people moving in for the first time, and connecting friends with one another.
In her 80s, though, she was having difficulty with basic tasks of everyday life. It was hampering her ability to mingle, walk around the neighborhood, and even do things she once took for granted.
In time, with some dear friends passing away, her physical abilities declining, she was feeling lonely. She felt isolated in her home. It reached a point when she didn’t care who it was, so long as somebody was there to spend time with.
That’s when she started looking into home care.
Home Care Jericho, NY: Social Seniors
Her adult daughter who lived a few towns over asked why she needed home care. After all, Mildred was still physically active and relatively strong. She didn’t need help getting out of bed, taking a shower, or preparing a meal. She did not need assistance to do the laundry, go grocery shopping, or to clean.
But she was lonely.
She didn’t know what home care could offer, and didn’t even know if it was something she could obtain just for companionship, but that’s why she contacted a local agency.
When paying independently, companionship can be beneficial.
An insurance policy isn’t going to provide home care for somebody just for companionship. However, companionship is certainly a secondary benefit to home care services.
For Mildred, though, since she didn’t have other physical needs or health issues at the time, a home care aide would have to be paid privately, out of her own pocket.
And she was more than happy to do that. She and her husband had saved diligently and had a solid savings and investment portfolio that meant she didn’t need to worry about money again for the rest of her life.
She didn’t want to throw money away, though, but she wanted to know if having somebody stopping by on a regular basis, even if it was somebody she didn’t know at first, could help her stave off the feelings of loneliness and isolation.
It worked.
Mildred was thrilled with the home care aide she received. She got along great with this younger woman, they had similar interests, and she felt like she mattered once again.
Sometimes we don’t think about home care for companionship, but it could be just as important as physical assistance.