Empowered Aging at Home

Nearly 90% of U.S. adults over 65 say they want to age in their own homes (AARP) rather than in a nursing facility or hospital, but staying at home while getting older isn’t always simple. It takes planning, support and honest conversations, especially between caregivers and their loved ones.

In many cultures, caring for older adults at home is expected of close family relatives. The number of family caregivers in the U.S. providing help to older adults increased by nearly six million between 2011 and 2022 (Health Affairs). In Hispanic, Asian and African American communities, it’s common for adult children to care full-time for aging parents. One AARP study found that more than 40% of Hispanic caregivers live with the person they’re helping. While this kind of dedication is admirable, it can also be physically, emotionally and financially exhausting. Professional in-home care can help reduce caregiver stress and improve the health of the patient. 

Why in-home care?

You may want to consider professional in-home care before health issues become too serious. Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and mobility loss tend to get worse with time, but with early support at home (i.e. help with medications, meal prep or getting to the bathroom safely), older adults can stay independent longer.

Our goal shouldn’t just be to live a long life, but to live a healthy one. The medical term for this is “health span,” instead of “life span.” Unfortunately, many people spend the final years of life in and out of hospitals, struggling with daily tasks and requiring expensive, round-the-clock care, much of which falls on family to help fill in the gaps.

In-home care can help avoid stressful moments by reducing emergency visits, shortening hospital stays and making everyday life easier for both older adults and their caregivers. It can also relieve family members from having to drive to appointments, keeping track of medications or worrying whether their loved one may have a health emergency while no one else is home

Talking to your loved one about in-home care

If you’re thinking about bringing up the topic of in-home care with a loved one, let them know that it isn’t about losing freedom, but about staying safe and comfortable. Explain that trained professionals can help with bathing, dressing, cooking or even physical therapy. Responsibilities can be shared: the in-home care team can handle clinical needs, while family focuses on love, connection and emotional support.

EAP as an extra support system

For caregivers who are juggling work and family responsibilities, it’s also worth checking with your employer’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Many EAPs include work-life specialists who can help locate eldercare services. These experts can offer one-on-one phone consultations and provide customized searches for in-home care, financial aid, transportation and local community programs. They vet the options to ensure quality and provide guidance to help families make informed decisions. Having a work-life specialist on your side can save time, reduce stress and connect you with trustworthy resources so your loved one can age in place with dignity and support.