The older you are, the higher your risk of being told you have cancer. The median age for diagnosis is 66, but it can depend on the type of cancer. The average age for a lung cancer diagnosis is 71, while it’s 67 for colorectal cancer. You shouldn’t be surprised to learn your dad is now part of those statistics. Your dad’s doctor told him he has cancer, and you’re all in shock. It’s time to take action, though. You’re coming up with a care plan that ensures he has all the support he needs. Look beyond having family members and friends to help out. Make personal care at home part of your plan.
What Is Personal Care at Home?
Personal care at Home is a service where professional caregivers come to an older adult’s home to help with non-medical tasks. It includes things like light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, medication reminders, companionship, and organization.
With a caregiver helping out, your dad has rides to his follow-up appointments. He has someone to encourage him to eat and drink, even if he’s feeling sick. If he’s undergoing treatments like chemo or radiation, his caregiver can drive him to that appointment and bring him back home.
Your dad’s personal care at home aide can pick up prescription medications and groceries, help your dad with personal care and grooming, and organize and schedule your dad’s appointments. The entire time, the caregiver keeps you updated.
You Also Benefit From This Service
While personal care at home services are to help your dad, it helps you. You experience less anxiety because you know your dad is not alone when you’re at work or running errands. You’re not worried that your dad’s forgotten to take his medications or that he fell in the shower and is lying there in need of help.
You might be home all of the time with your dad, so you can’t see the benefit of home care. Providing care to an aging parent is hard work mentally and emotionally. It can be demanding physically, too.
When was the last time you took a break? With professional caregivers available to help out, you can take a few hours or a day or two off. Your dad isn’t alone while you’re away.
Make sure your dad has personal care at home to help with housekeeping, organization, and meals. He’ll have caregivers for companionship when he’s feeling down. And, he’ll appreciate having a helper on days he feels weak and shaky. Talk to an expert to learn more.
Sources: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/age