Stay at Home
Sometimes ill or disabled spouses have trouble with the activities of daily living. When your spouse can no longer shop, do chores around the house, cook, or do personal grooming, it’s time to get help.
Think about the help your spouse might need in the near future. Start by talking to your spouse’s doctor about how health problems may be making it hard to live at home.
Help getting dressed, making meals, or taking medicine may be all it takes to keep your spouse at home. Other times, modifying your home will help.
Types of help available
A wide range of support services are available. Check with you local Area Agency on Aging, local and State offices on aging or social services, tribal organization, or nearby senior centers for more information.
Personal care. Is bathing, washing hair, or dressing getting harder for your spouse to do? Maybe a relative or friend can provide assistance. Or, you might bringing in a trained caregiver for several hours a day.
Homemaking. Need help with housecleaning, yard chores, shopping for food, or laundry? Some grocery stores and drug stores will take phone orders and deliver. There are many housekeeping services available, as well. Some will even help with laundry. Some drycleaners will pick up and deliver.
Meals. Tired of cooking every day? Share cooking with a friend a few times a week or have a potluck dinner with a group of friends. Bring your spouse to lunch at a nearby senior center, church, or synagogue. This will ease both your and your spouse’s social isolation. Hard to get out? Ask someone to bring a healthy meal on occasion. Meals on Wheels can also help.
Money management. Are you and your spouse paying bills late or forgetting to? Getting confused with doctor’s bills and claim forms? Ask a trusted relative to help. Or ask a local agency to provide a volunteer. Also talk with your bank about setting up an automatic bill payment plan.
Health care. Does your spouse forget to take his or her medicine? Devices are available to provide a memory boost. Have you just gotten out of the hospital and still need nursing care at home for a short time? Medicare might pay for a home health aide.
Products to make life easier. Getting harder for your spouse to open doors, get up from chairs, or get dressed? Many products exist to make life easier. Visit www.abledata.com (at the U.S. Department of Education) or call 1-800-227-0216.
Getting around—at home and in town.Spouse having difficulty walking? Consider an electric chair or scooter (often covered through Medicare). Don’t drive any more? Use free or lower-priced public transportation and taxis. Or get a friend or relative to drive.
Activities and friends. Bored with the same old routine? Go to your local senior center and meet old friends or make new ones. Or check with local agencies for available home visitation volunteers.
Safety. Worried about crime, physical abuse, or financial scams? Talk to your local police or area agency on aging. Consider getting an emergency alert system for you and your spouse.
Housing. A ramp on your front steps, grab bars in the bathroom, nonskid rugs and floors, better handles on doors or faucets, and better insulation. All these items can make a big difference. Check the internet for details or contact your local aging agency.
Sometimes ill or disabled spouses have trouble with the activities of daily living. When your spouse can no longer shop, do chores around the house, cook, or do personal grooming, it’s time to get help.
Think about the help your spouse might need in the near future. Start by talking to your spouse’s doctor about how health problems may be making it hard to live at home.
Help getting dressed, making meals, or taking medicine may be all it takes to keep your spouse at home. Other times, modifying your home will help.
Types of help available
A wide range of support services are available. Check with you local Area Agency on Aging, local and State offices on aging or social services, tribal organization, or nearby senior centers for more information.
Personal care. Is bathing, washing hair, or dressing getting harder for your spouse to do? Maybe a relative or friend can provide assistance. Or, you might bringing in a trained caregiver for several hours a day.
Homemaking. Need help with housecleaning, yard chores, shopping for food, or laundry? Some grocery stores and drug stores will take phone orders and deliver. There are many housekeeping services available, as well. Some will even help with laundry. Some drycleaners will pick up and deliver.
Meals. Tired of cooking every day? Share cooking with a friend a few times a week or have a potluck dinner with a group of friends. Bring your spouse to lunch at a nearby senior center, church, or synagogue. This will ease both your and your spouse’s social isolation. Hard to get out? Ask someone to bring a healthy meal on occasion. Meals on Wheels can also help.
Money management. Are you and your spouse paying bills late or forgetting to? Getting confused with doctor’s bills and claim forms? Ask a trusted relative to help. Or ask a local agency to provide a volunteer. Also talk with your bank about setting up an automatic bill payment plan.
Health care. Does your spouse forget to take his or her medicine? Devices are available to provide a memory boost. Have you just gotten out of the hospital and still need nursing care at home for a short time? Medicare might pay for a home health aide.
Products to make life easier. Getting harder for your spouse to open doors, get up from chairs, or get dressed? Many products exist to make life easier. Visit www.abledata.com (at the U.S. Department of Education) or call 1-800-227-0216.
Getting around—at home and in town.Spouse having difficulty walking? Consider an electric chair or scooter (often covered through Medicare). Don’t drive any more? Use free or lower-priced public transportation and taxis. Or get a friend or relative to drive.
Activities and friends. Bored with the same old routine? Go to your local senior center and meet old friends or make new ones. Or check with local agencies for available home visitation volunteers.
Safety. Worried about crime, physical abuse, or financial scams? Talk to your local police or area agency on aging. Consider getting an emergency alert system for you and your spouse.
Housing. A ramp on your front steps, grab bars in the bathroom, nonskid rugs and floors, better handles on doors or faucets, and better insulation. All these items can make a big difference. Check the internet for details or contact your local aging agency.