In-Home Care Agencies
When mom (or dad) gets sick or can't take care of her basic everyday needs anymore, she can often turn to family for help. But as time goes by, family caregivers might begin to consider moving their loved one to a nursing home or an assisted living residence. An increasingly popular alternative is to hire an in-home care agency, which can supplement or replace care provided by family members and allow seniors to maintain their independence and stay in familiar surroundings.
For reasons ranging from acute illness to long-term health conditions, more than 7.6 million Americans receive in-home care, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But that number is far greater if you include care given by family members. Informal care is given to an adult family member in 1 in 5 American households, according to the 2004 survey Caregiving in the U.S. The typical caregiver is a 46-year-old woman, who spends about 20 hours a week taking care of her mother, according to the survey, which was paid for by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP.
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