As we grow older we run the risk of failing health and having to be put into a Residential Home where we are looked after in an intensive way. This comes at a large cost because we are giving up our own home so that we can afford the residential care. There is an alternative and that is to act in the prevention of failing health and remain living at home with the help of home and community care.
Louisa Jorm professor of population health at the University of Western Sydney says “People who are obese, sedentary, smokers, who reported falling in the past year or who eat little fruit or vegetables are significantly more likely to need help”
“Everyone wants to stay living in the community before moving into aged-care facilities,” Professor Jorm said.
“Home and Community Care is the first step in that process and we should have the goal of keeping them there rather than moving them into more intensive services”.
“For instance, there are very low levels of physical activity for those receiving these services, and a high proportion had falls in the last 12 months, so that’s a clear intervention point we could look at. Programs around gentle exercise could improve strength, help balance and prevent falls.”
“Home and Community Care services are much cheaper than residential aged-care and there is already intense pressure on availability, so clearly if we can offer quick and cheap interventions it would be better.”
High quality Home Care is about supplying services that encourage older people to do things for themselves.
The care needs to aim for outcomes that get people active again; if someone was able to do something in the past then they must be encouraged to do that again.
An example is meals, rather than just be delivered a meal the person should be encouraged to go shopping for their food and learn how to cook the meal for themselves. This not only gets them active but will probably result in a healthier diet.
Everycare are a home care company that works with people in preventing a decline in their health and encouraging them to get healthier and be involved in the local community
For more information contact Melanie at Everycare on 01962 842548.
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