The Ups and Downs of Home Care for an Aging Veteran

Veterans Home Care St. Louis

Getting older doesn’t get any easier, regardless of whether somebody served in the military or not. Often, aging veterans have a great deal of pride in their service and ability to take care of themselves. It becomes difficult to recognize or even acknowledge the fact they may need assistance with some basic aspects of daily living.

Home care is a great option for aging veterans, especially for those who are struggling with their basic needs. Some of the struggles can include getting out of bed, bathing, preparing meals, or even getting to and from the doctor’s office, the store, or to visit with friends.

Relying on a home care aide can provide physical support, emotional support, and even transportation, depending on the caregiver and where they were hired.

When an elderly veteran ultimately agrees to rely on a home care aide for support and assistance, that doesn’t mean everything is going to be positive from then on out. Just as in every other aspect of life, there are going to be ups and downs.

Feeling discouraged.

Even though an elderly individual may be getting physical support to help them get up and down stairs, get out and about, and stay active, there may be setbacks. The senior may slip and fall and injure himself. He may have a doctor’s appointment and find out he has to give up something he enjoys.

Being discouraged is going to happen, regardless of age or physical capabilities. By relying on an experienced home care aide, though, the aging veteran will often receive the encouragement he needs to pick himself back up and realize there are many other things he can be doing at that time.

Feeling lonely.

One of the most common concerns people have about aging is feeling isolated and alone, especially if they can no longer drive, if their friends move away or pass away, and more.

When a home care aide is working with an elderly individual on a regular basis, that senior will know somebody is showing up to check in on them. With the right home care aide, they will often engage the senior consistently.

These engagements can be in the form of conversations, watching TV together or going outside to take part in various activities that may be of interest to the senior.

Even though an aging veteran relies on home care, that doesn’t mean they won’t experience emotional downs at times. It’s a natural process of life, so it’s important to offer support to your senior loved one in these situations. Remind them that you are there to support them, and so is their home care aide. It’s a transitional process, so be patient and give them time to understand how much a home care aide can benefit them.

For more information and to learn about veterans home care St. Louis, contact Veterans Home Care at (888) 314-6075.

Bonnie Laiderman, CEO

Bonnie Laiderman, founder of Veterans Home Care®, has helped more than 20,000 veterans and their spouses receive in-home care through the unique VetAssist® Program. Started in 2003 as a one-woman operation, Bonnie has overseen the growth of the company to become the national leader and unparalleled experts in VA Aid and Attendance benefits for home care. Veterans Home Care has also earned the Better Business Bureau's Torch Award for Ethics and Inc. 5000 award of fastest-growing companies seven times. Now with offices coast-to-coast, Veterans Home Care serves our veterans in 48 states throughout the country.
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