As we age and face the physical limitations or pain of a life well-lived, it can be hard to keep up with household chores. It’s also hard to ask for help. If you’re a senior, where do you turn when you need help but don’t require support from an assisted living community?

Families usually like to help, but you may not want to add to their responsibilities. Maybe even despite your needs, you don’t want to ask them.

What’s On Your List?

To keep living at home as long as possible, it might be a good idea to consider hiring a personal care or home cleaning service—even for just some help! Think about your needs at home.

Make a list with three columns. Under the first header, write down the tasks you don’t need help with. In the second column, list the tasks that you need some help with or those that are a little tough. In the third column, list the most complicated tasks—perhaps those piling up and not getting done.

As you create this list, consider everything you do or need to do, from personal tasks to managing your household.

• Do some chores cause extra pain?
• Are you too tired to do what you need to accomplish?
• Is it hard to shop or put away items on your grocery list?
• Do specific tasks make you feel anxious about falling or unsteady on your feet?
• Is cooking a challenge?
• Is getting your mail difficult?
• Do you have expired foods in your fridge?
• Are you struggling to maintain your weight?
• Have you forgotten to take your daily medications?
• Is doing laundry or replacing the linens tough?
• Have you been unsteady or fallen in the last six months?

From washing your hair to cleaning your kitchen, which are the toughest? If doing chores one day causes you to need to rest for three days, consider those chores difficult.

While no one wants to admit they need help, sometimes coming to terms with it can support your long-term goal. Adding some light housekeeping could prevent a fall, injury, or even a stay away from home in a hospital or skilled nursing facility to rehab from an injury.

It’s better to ask for help early. Being honest about your needs could help you avoid the need for full support all at once.

Common Barriers to Accepting Help:

• I don’t want to bother anyone.
• I will get better if I wait.
• They won’t do the chores the way I do.
• I don’t want strangers coming in.
• Hiring help is probably too expensive.
• I don’t know if I can trust them.

Why Use Professional Services?

The best part about hiring a service is that things can be done how you want. Sometimes, if a volunteer or family member comes in to help, we might need to accept what they do in their way versus ours. Occasionally, we might even set ourselves back entirely after re-doing their work after they leave.

Paying a home or personal care provider gives you a voice! You can ask for things to be done the way you choose.

 At Home Care Companions, we get to know you so we can choose which staff might best fit your personality and goals. Our staff are screened with background checks, so you can trust who comes into your home.

We also offer flexibility. Perhaps you are recovering from an illness or injury. We can help you temporarily if that’s what you need. You can also keep us coming in so you can feel confident that your home will be maintained to reduce your worries.

If you think you could use a little help with your daily activities or a companion to join you for card games, trips to the movies, or shopping malls, email us at hccinfo@yourhomecarecompanions.com.